FRSC PARLEYS WITH DANGOTE ON ROAD CRASHES

Disturbed by the recent spate of road traffic crashes involving Dangote trucks/drivers across the country, the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Osita Chidoka had a meeting with the Management of the Dangote Cement Transport of Dangote Group led by the Chief Executive Officer, Alhaji Muhamadu Rabiu at the FRSC National Headquarters, Abuja.

At the meeting, the two organizations expressed discomfort on the high incidence of crashes involving trucks from the Dangote Group. Dangote Transport has several thousands of trucks in its fleet criss-crossing the nation’s highways on a daily basis. The meeting mapped out some strategies to address this unpleasant trend, which has resulted in wanton loss of lives and property on the road.

Among the excesses of Dangote drivers identified during the meeting were reckless driving, overloading, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, driving at night and in the rain as against the company’s policy and general road indiscipline. The forum further stressed the need for proper training of drivers and fleet/safety managers as well as developing a company Safety Policy Manual.
In his presentation, Alhaji Rabiu sought the support and cooperation of the FRSC to evolve a better and safer road culture among Dangote drivers as the company is worried by the present situation, which poses additional challenges to its drive towards safer movement of its fleet across the country.

Responding, the FRSC Corps Marshal commended the Dangote Company’s initiative for identifying the problem and need to check the excesses of their operators. He stated that he had earlier directed FRSC Commands across the country to engage the company transport operators on the identified road safety challeges and that the FRSC patrol men should pay special attention to traffic rule infractions involving Dangote trucks on the nation’s highway.

Speaking further, the Corps Marshal noted the concern of the new company’s Management on safety issues and immediately inaugurated a team of experts from the Corps’ Transport Standardization Office and the Training, Standards and Certification Department to commence action on the production of a Safety Policy Manual and training arrangement for the company. He also directed that the FRSC should embark on full implementation of the Road Transport Safety Standardization Scheme (RTSSS) to improve the safety records of the Dangote Company. Part of the training curriculum will include Highway Code lectures, defensive driving techniques, vehicle maintenance/routine checks, sharing the road with others and guidelines/safety requirements for tankers/trailers operation.

In addition, all the company drivers will be subjected to drug and eye tests and there will be verification of their driving licenses to identify those operating with fake drivers license or not properly licensed. Practical driving tests will also be conducted to determine the proficiency of the drivers.