FRSC To Prosecute Drivers, Operators Involved In Fatal Crashes

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced that it will withdraw the licenses and prosecute any driver or fleet operator involved in fatal road accidents.

The warning came from the FRSC Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, who addressed the matter at the annual Safety Manager Retreat in Abuja on Thursday.

The retreat, themed “Driver Management: Enhancing Safety Through Technology,” serves as a platform to routinely sensitize Safety Managers on the implementation of the Road Transport Safety Standardization Scheme (RTSSS) and to promote best practices in fleet operations across the country.

Speaking at the event, Mohammed emphasized the importance of fleet management in improving road safety, noting that driver management is a key aspect of the Corps’ safety standards under the RTSSS.

“The management of drivers is a task that every fleet operator must undertake seriously to ensure safety on our roads,” he stated.

He added that the retreat’s objectives were to review fleet performance, advocate for improvements, and acknowledge operators who had successfully implemented the minimum safety standards of the RTSSS, thereby reducing traffic accidents. Mohammed also reminded fleet operators that road safety is a shared responsibility between the government and the private sector.

In light of a detailed review of fleet operators’ performance and RTSSS implementation, he announced new measures that would take effect immediately, including:

Fleet operators who fail to meet certification standards twice will be suspended. Certification stickers will only be issued to vehicles equipped with functional Speed Limiting Devices (SLDs).

Any fleet operator or driver involved in a fatal traffic crash will be prosecuted.
The FRSC also plans to take legal action against non-compliant fleet operators, with pre-action notices being served to those failing to adhere to safety protocols. Additionally, operators who deny certification teams access to their premises will face prosecution.

In his address, the Inspector-General of the Nigeria Police Force, Kayode Egbetokun, represented by Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Mr. Benneth Igwe, assured that the police would continue to support the FRSC in tackling road safety issues and enforcing traffic laws.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) representative, Olubunmi Otti, also urged fleet operators to uphold passengers’ rights and provide value for money.

The event saw the participation of over 2,000 safety managers from various fleet operators, with the goal of reinforcing best practices in the rapidly evolving Nigerian road transport sector.