Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) said on Wednesday that it was considering banning the use of Toyota Hiace buses in Nigeria over the non-installation of speed limit devices in them.
The FRSC Corps Marshal, Mr Osita Chidoka, made the idea known in Gusau, Zamfara State at a one-day Stakeholders Sensitisation Forum to the use of speed limit.
The Corps Marshal was represented by the Zonal Commander in-charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, Mr. Alfred Adeboye.
He said the buses had been reported to have been involved in 1, 397 cases of road accidents, thereby becoming the brand with the highest number of road crashes reported between January and July.
He said the crashes led to the death of 1,437 persons and 6,831 others severely injured.
He said the Toyota Hiace bus accounted for 48 per cent of crashes, which recorded a yearly increase of 126 cases.
The corps marshal described the situation as unacceptable, saying; the commission was concerned because 31 per cent of the Hiace brand was involved in the crashes ended up in flames.
“We are touched and concerned about the high number of crashes involving the Toyota Hiace buses, most of them ended up in flames, killing many people.
“As a result, we have written to the managing director of Toyota to instal speed limit device in the particular brand to caution drivers in case of over-speeding.
“We will continue to appreciate those that have heeded our advice,’’ he said.
Chidoka expressed gratitude to some transporters who installed the speed limiting device in their fleet and hoped that others would follow.
He mentioned a popular transport company which 32 of its vehicles were involved in accidents between January and June and expressed the hope that it would instal the device in its vehicles.
“The commission would continue to prosecute any unregistered fleet operators because at the moment, we have prosecuted 50 operators,” Chidoka said.
Earlier in an address of welcome, the Zamfara Sector Commander of FRSC, Mr Halliru Aliyu, said the one-day workshop was aimed at enlightening stakeholders on the use of speed limit devices.
He said when fully applied, the device would enhance the driver’s ability to control and manoeuvre a vehicle at all points, prevent accidents and improve fuel economy.
Participants in the workshop included members of transport unions, vehicle inspection officers and the police.
