By Okuneye Moyosola
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has called for investment in building attractive Truck Transit Parks (TTP) in order to solve the problems of traffic and massive congestion at the ports.
Corp Marshall and Chief Executive, FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi, said this while speaking at the TTP, South- West, Lagos Sensitization Rally Programme organized by FRSC and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC).
Oyeyemi who was represented by the Assistant Corps Marshall , Command, Admin and Strategy , Victor Nwokolo urged stakeholders in the maritime sector to also embrace technology based- solution in order to reduce the gridlock.
“To eradicate road traffic crashes involving truck drivers, the construction of Truck transit parks along major corridors is necessary as this will address the incessant traffic” he said.
Nwokolo also disclosed that the proposed truck transit parks would ensure that truck drivers rest for at least 15 minutes in every 4 hours of their journey and encouraged them to take care of their health in order to reduce truck accidents.
The Executive Secretary of NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello who was represented by the Director of Special duties, NSC, Mr. Samuel Vangtua also noted that lack of inadequate rest on the part of truck drivers has resulted to several cases of truck crashes in the country.
“It has been discovered that the main problems truck drivers usually complain of is about 39% fatigue related while the main causes of truck crashes is about 41% fatigue related. This is because most drivers sleep for just about four hours in every 24 hours. This therefore underscores the need for a truck transit rest place” he said.
The Director, Inland Transport Services, NSC, Mr. Akintunde Makinde while speaking on the theme of the event, “Truck Transit Parks: A panacea to Endemic Gridlock and Road crashes in Nigeria” also noted that the development of the TTP network will improve efficiency in network management, improve conditions for operators and ensure fleet longevity.
According to him, the parks will also provide primary and secondary layers of employment corridors and serve as a stepping stone in the actualization of the transport master plan as proposed by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
