 |
| Corps Commander Andrew Paul Longkam, Kaduna State Sector Commander |
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kaduna State Sector Command, has intensified enforcement of the Road Transport Safety Standardization Scheme (RTSSS) as part of efforts to reduce road traffic crashes and improve safety standards among fleet operators across the country.
The Kaduna State Sector Commander, Corps Commander Andrew Paul Longkam, disclosed this in an interview during the Road Transport Safety Standardization Scheme Enforcement Week, explaining that the initiative was introduced by the FRSC to establish minimum safety standards for fleet operators and ensure safer transportation on Nigerian roads.
Longkam said the scheme provides a framework for certifying fleet operators that meet prescribed standards, assuring the public that certified operators maintain safe vehicles, employ qualified drivers and adhere to operational safety requirements.
He explained that the scheme focuses on three critical areas: fleet operators, vehicles and drivers. According to him, vehicles must be properly maintained with functional brakes, tyres, lighting systems, wipers and other safety equipment, while drivers are expected to undergo regular training and possess valid driving licences.
The Sector Commander noted that compliance with the scheme is mandatory for corporate organisations, government agencies, transport companies and unions operating fleets of five vehicles or more.
He added that operators who satisfy the requirements are issued certification stickers displayed on their vehicle windscreens to indicate that their facilities, vehicles and drivers have successfully passed FRSC inspections.
Speaking on the benefits of the scheme, Longkam said compliance significantly reduces road traffic crashes, enhances passenger safety, lowers vehicle maintenance costs and improves efficiency in fleet operations.
He stated that properly maintained vehicles are less likely to be involved in crashes, thereby reducing financial losses for transport operators while ensuring safer journeys for passengers.
The Corps Commander explained that the enforcement week, which runs from July 13 to 17, is aimed at creating greater awareness among fleet operators while strengthening compliance through roadside enforcement.
He said FRSC personnel have been deployed along major highways to inspect commercial vehicles, verify compliance with the RTSSS requirements and ensure that passenger manifests are properly maintained by commercial transport operators.
According to him, operators who fail to comply with the scheme or violate passenger manifest regulations will face appropriate sanctions in line with FRSC regulations.
Longkam expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded since the introduction of the scheme, noting that many compliant fleet operators have experienced significant reductions in road crashes involving their vehicles.
He attributed the improvement to better vehicle maintenance, improved driver training and stricter adherence to speed regulations, describing the results as encouraging despite the need for greater participation by more operators.
He appealed to transport companies and other fleet operators yet to register under the scheme to do so, stressing that FRSC would continue to provide inspections, certification and periodic driver training to improve safety standards nationwide.
Longkam also advised operators to ensure regular vehicle servicing, avoid the use of expired or fairly used tyres, maintain functional braking and lighting systems, and prevent driver fatigue through proper work schedules.
He expressed optimism that wider compliance with the RTSSS would lead to fewer crashes, reduced fatalities and injuries, and a safer road transport system for all Nigerians.