Expert renews call to compel motorists to implement speed limiter to checkmate carnage on roads

House of Representatives has been urged to allow the speed limiter implementation intended by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) from April 1, 2016 take effect with all commercial vehicles in order to obviate carnage on the roads, due mostly to uncontrollable high speed by motorists.

This renewed call was made by a transport expert, Chidubem Timothy, head of operations, Peace Mass Transit, in Lagos, while commenting and reviewing the state of the Nigerian roads vis-a-vis incessant accidents that have claimed many in recent times.

Chidubem said in a statement made available to BusinessDay “Nigeria is overdue for speed limiter device implementation now. In this modern age where speeding is a very impulsive behavioural trait, controlling speed by a modern technology fitted to work per vehicle is more important rather than installing a technology that is not feasible to limit vehicle speed in any way.

“For emphasis sake, Spider technology has been touted in some quarters as alternative to Speed Limiter devices on highways, but will the government be able to install at least 64,000 spiders on our over 32,000-kilometre highways, considering the huge cost outlay per spider in the next five years or so?

“How many more lives would have been lost in that five years? Would it be feasible to secure such huge number of Spider installations, or even provide the internet and electricity facilities to manage this major road installations?”

Rather, Chidubem said further that what was more effective for FRSC to manage its road safety mandate and reduce the alarming carnage on roads caused by accidents was the Speed Limiter installations in vehicles.

The device, according to the expert,” acts like speed governors that limit the attainment of a vehicle to a pre-programmed maximum speed. These devices work with any type of vehicle technology, including injector or carburettor fuelled engine systems.

“Speed Limiters also contribute to safety as well as reduce fuel use and tyre wear, with the speed set at a level optimum for these factors. Even if an accident will be inevitable, its impact will be very significantly reduced. That the Speed Limiter is getting worldwide acclaim cannot be faulted because right now, we have major car manufactures like General Motors implementing Speed Limiters at the point of manufacture in the UK for their latest Vauxhall Astra brand as well as some latest Suzuki models.”