Road Safety Article
Why do people drive with substandard tyres? This was the poser over the weekend when two road traffic crashes occurred. A total of 18 lives were lost in that single crash. My focus, however, is on the crash that occurred at Gaya in Kano State, caused by excessive speeding and tyre burst involving two vehicles on 19 April, 2024.
The crash involved 28 people, 17 male adults, five female adults, two male children and four female children. Twelve people, including the driver, all male adults were killed in this crash. The first crash involving a trailer was caused by speed violation, worn out tyres and eventual loss of control.
My question is why do people indulge in the use of substandard tyres? Economic reasons or attitude? Then why excessive speeding? And why overloading? The questions to ask are just too numerous. Some observers, however, agree that the current economic challenge might be an appropriate justification.
They nonetheless noted that the attitude borne out of illiteracy is the fundamental reason. These questions I hope to unravel soon but for now I need you to ponder on this while I conclude my piece on the Osogbo crash.
As I asked last week, what is the reason for this suicide driven travel pattern that addicts maintain is cozy, cheap and also fun. Why do people drive against traffic despite the inherent risk involved? Let me start with driving against traffic which may be as a result of driver inattention or impairment, inadequate or confusing road markings or signages or a case where a driver from a left hand traffic country is unaccustomed to a right-hand traffic country.
Another question to ask is why do people drive on the wrong side of the road? This occurs on either one-or two-way roads as well as in parking lots and parking garages, and may be due to driver inattention or impairment too. It can occur on either one- or two-way roads, as well as in parking lots and parking garages, and may be due to driver inattention or impairment, or because of insufficient or confusing road markings or signage, or a driver from a right-hand traffic country being unaccustomed to driving in a left-hand traffic country.
Despite these possibilities, I must fire straight from the hip by stating that these reasons do not apply in the Nigeria case or in any of the road traffic cases cited. It boils down to sheer irresponsible driving, flagrant disregard for traffic rules. As one observer noted, a handful of these drivers may be suffering from some mental challenges or other possible challenges.
Weak enforcement may be a possible lacuna. This explains why the current leadership of the Corps is tinkering with strengthening enforcement through prosecution as well as the long run adoption and implementation of the penalty point system
Before I dwell on the reasons adduced by night journey addicts, let me first state that this is not death arising from terror attack nor militancy, not even from cult -gang clashes but from avoidable road traffic crashes at night. I recall similar crashes last year especially the auto crash which occurred at about 8 p.m. at Km around the Elebolo quarry Area on the Ibadan axis of Lagos Ibadan highway.
Deaths were recorded while some people were injured in the crash which occurred at a construction site caused by route and speed violations. These crashes underscore the Corps advice to motorists to avoid night journeys, be careful around construction sites and drive within approved speed limits.
I have written several times on this death wish yet the apostles of night travel keep canvassing reasons why they can never give up their free choice which cannot be restricted by law. This is because globally, there is no legislation anywhere in the world that prohibits night travel.
However, the Corps has mounted a consistent campaign against night travel. While the Corps appreciates the rights of individuals in a democracy, the Corps in keeping with the peculiar Nigerian situation takes its stand against night travel for several reasons. This has culminated in a series of workshops held with stakeholders to raise awareness on the dangers involved.
While acknowledging the emergence of night travel due to the temporary suspension of rail services due to insecurity, prohibitive cost of air travel and inadequate inland waterways, the Corps however, takes cognizance of the inherent road crash dangers and the need for caution among travelers.
Although few accidents occur at night, heavier fatalities and casualty rates usually occur. The records show that a handful of night crashes such as the recent one are often fatal. Recall the celebrated case where people lost their lives when two luxury buses collided in the night along Zuba – Gwagwalada road as well as the ones that occurred at Ife and Aba as well as the ones recorded since the beginning of 2022.
But why is FRSC concerned about night travel? One of the obvious reasons is the fact that rescue operations are minimal and most often non-existent in the night. Presently, except for Lagos, FCT and a few cities in the country, the FRSC team rarely does night patrols along major highways simply because of the dangers involved. Secondly, remember that the outcome of a road crash for the victim in terms of their chances of survival and long-term prognosis is affected by the level of available medical care.
Unfortunately, ambulance services outside the increasing fleet of the Corps are still epileptic and even rescue efforts are even complicated by the absence of nearby health centers as well as the attitude at some hospitals. Consequently, because access to emergency services is poor, death before arrival at the hospital is usually high. In many cases there is no availability of ambulances, and road crash victims rely on passersby for help. Lack of any medical interventions and long difficult journeys to hospitals reduces the chances of survival.
Visibility is another problem. Globally, it is recommended that improving the visibility of road users is one of the specific interventions that can yield good results. Seeing and being seen are fundamental prerequisites for the safety of all road users and there are several ways of enhancing visibility.
The use of extra reflectors on the vehicle or light reflective vests of the thin plastic material is also recommended by the United Nations and is contained in the National Road Traffic Regulation. Illuminating crosswalks, including the flood lighting of pedestrian crossing and increased illumination at crosswalks are also recommended strategies.
Unfortunately, the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), the lead Government agency charged with road maintenance, in one of its publications maintains that our road signs, and marking in terms of their shapes, colour and reflectivity on some roads do not meet international standards. The consequences are that driving is made more difficult and hazardous because of the absence of the appropriate road furniture to guide motorists at night and bad or poor weather.
The result is the recourse by fleet operators to violate the provision of the traffic regulation by fixing extra lights, which has led to avoidable crashes and death.
This is why FERMA opined that if maximum reflectivity is maintained in our pavement markings, signs and delineators, there would be increased visibility at night time and ultimately fewer crashes injuries and fatalities may be recorded.
Retro-reflectivity is a critical element that has helped the US Department of transport achieve its safety goals of reducing fatality by percent. Inadequate visibility because of environmental factors, which makes it hard to detect vehicles and other road users and poor eye sight of road users, are all listed as factors influencing crash involvement. All these are prevalent among night time operators.
