The House of Representatives, Thursday, overwhelmingly passed a resolution stopping the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) from enforcing the new regulation which mandates motorists to install speed limit devices on their vehicles. The resolution followed the unanimous adoption of a motion under matters of urgent public importance sponsored by Rep. Phillip Shaibu (APC-Edo).
The speed limit has been in the works and would have come into effect this year without enough public enlightenment by the FRSC to sensitise the public about the imminent introduction of what many feared might exposed motorists to more danger rather than save them from danger.
Having adopted the resolution, the House resolved to summon the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi, to explain why enforcement of the use of the speed limit device should not be discontinued. Shaibu expressed concern that the introduction of the speed limit device by the FRSC would expose motorists to hazards of armed robbery, car-snatching and assassination.
He told the House that the device had been experimented and abandoned in other African countries for obvious disadvantages, stressing that the speed limit device instructs a vehicle computer system to cut off fuel flow to the electronic injector system of the vehicle engine once the pre-set speed is exceeded.
“Indeed, it is an out-dated technology. Its introduction will expose motorists to hazards of criminals, such as armed robbers, car snatchers and assassins who ply the roads. This is more apt given the security challenges Nigeria is presently grappling with,” Shaibu said.
In lieu of speed limit device, he suggested the use of Spider Technology which uses wide focus telescopic mobile cameras to be installed on FRSC patrol vehicles to detect, monitor and track abusers of speed regulations on highways.
Motorists interviewed by our reporter hailed the move of the House which they claimed has saved them from another round of extortion by some elements in the FRSC.
