TheCable

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it will start impounding haulage trucks conveying passengers.

Zubairu Mato, sector commander in Kaduna state, spoke on Thursday at a stakeholders engagement on rising fatalities involving haulage trucks carrying passengers.

Mato emphasised that haulage trucks are meant for the conveyance of goods.

“Any vehicle arrested, the passengers will be dropped to find another means to take them to their destinations and the driver would be sanctioned accordingly,” he said.

“The corps, henceforth, will prosecute any driver or truck owner whose truck is involved in road traffic crash that resulted in the death of any passenger.”

He lamented that road crashes involving haulage trucks carrying passengers have been on the rise in recent times.

He said these crashes have resulted in numerous fatalities and injuries, causing significant economic losses and social disruptions to families and the nation.

“The nation continues to be outraged by the frequency of road traffic crashes and high fatality rate involving overloaded vehicles with goods and passengers on Nigerian roads” he said.

Mato said reducing road crashes involving haulage trucks requires collaborative efforts of stakeholders on improving safety standards, education and awareness.

He urged government agencies, trucking companies, and passenger transport associations, should work together with the corps to reduce the number of road crashes.

“These measures can help prevent crashes, reduce fatalities and injuries, and ensure safety on our nation’s highways,” Mato said.

“By working together, stakeholders can create a safer and more sustainable transport system that benefits everyone.”

Also speaking, Godwin Omiko, commander of zone RSI Kaduna, said the government would not allow the situation to continue.

Omiko, represented by Hauwa Rilwan, deputy corps commander, said road safety is a collective responsibility.

“I therefore imploy each of you to go back and talk to your drivers to desist from this attitude of carrying passengers and goods under any circumstance,” he said.