Senate moves to ban daytime operations of heavy-duty vehicles

The Senate has begun moves to ban the movement of articulated lorries, tankers, and trailers during daytime hours nationwide.

To this effect, a  bill titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment) Act, 2007, to Restrict the Daytime Movement of Heavy-Duty Vehicles and for Related Matters" was read the first time on Tuesday in the Senate.

The bill was sponsored by the Chairman,  Senate Committee on Reparation and Repatriation,  Senator Ned Nwoko,  APC, Delta North.

When passed by the Upper Chamber, the bill will introduce a nationwide ban on the movement of articulated lorries, tankers, and trailers between 6:00 am and 12:00 midnight, restricting their operations to the hours of 12 midnight to 6:00 am, except in emergencies.

Under the proposed amendment: Individual violators will face a fine of ₦500,000, Corporate offenders will be fined ₦5,000,000 and Vehicles found in violation will be seized and impounded for up to 30 days.

However, provisions have been made for emergency exemptions, particularly for vehicles transporting essential goods such as medical supplies or operating in situations deemed to be in the public interest.

According to the bill, it will help  curb the alarming rate of accidents involving heavy-duty vehicles, reduce traffic congestion, and protect lives and property. According to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), articulated vehicles, tankers, and trailers were responsible for 3,200 deaths between 2015 and 2018, with Nigeria losing over ₦39 billion to tanker and trailer-related accidents in 2018 alone.

In the bill, Senator Nwoko stated that  Nigeria roads are frequently congested with fuel-laden tankers, heavily loaded cement trucks, and trailers carrying hazardous cargo, competing for space with passenger vehicles during rush hours and early evenings. 

He said that consequences of these chaotic road conditions have been devastating, resulting in fatal collisions, widespread destruction, and severe economic losses.

The bill will after this stage move to second reading the sponsor is expected to intimate his colleagues on the general principles of the bill, then to public hearing stage.