The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has identified speeding, driver fatigue, overloading and driving against traffic as persistent violations among petroleum tanker drivers, warning that the practices continue to endanger road users.
The FRSC spokesman, Osondu Ohaeri, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, noting that the violations persist despite enforcement efforts by the corps.
Ohaeri highlighted the challenges associated with transporting petroleum products and other goods using articulated vehicles, particularly the risks posed by drivers who disregard safety regulations to meet delivery schedules.
He said some tanker drivers exceeded recommended speed limits in an attempt to deliver their products on time, despite the difficulty of bringing heavily loaded vehicles to a safe stop.
According to him, the size and weight of tankers require drivers to exercise extra caution, particularly when approaching bridges, bends and congested sections of highways.
The FRSC spokesman also identified driver fatigue as a major risk, noting that some drivers attempted to cover long distances, including journeys from Kano to Lagos, overnight without adequate rest.
“Driving while fatigued could impair concentration and reaction time, increasing the likelihood of losing control of vehicles,” he said.
Ohaeri further warned against driving against traffic and overloading, including the practice of using tankers to transport additional goods alongside petroleum products.
“These practices can compromise vehicle stability and expose drivers, passengers and other road users to danger,” he said.
He attributed the persistence of the violations partly to drivers’ attitudes and pressure to meet delivery schedules, stressing that operational demands should not take precedence over compliance with traffic regulations.
Ohaeri said the FRSC had intensified safety education and enforcement activities while collaborating with operators and other stakeholders to improve compliance with road safety standards.
He disclosed that the corps had achieved about 75 per cent success in issuing the appropriate Class G driver’s licences to relevant operators as part of efforts to ensure that drivers possessed the required qualifications.
He added that the agency was engaging petroleum marketers and other industry stakeholders to strengthen safety standards across the transportation chain.
The FRSC spokesman urged tanker drivers and operators to prioritise safety over delivery schedules, warning that violations involving vehicles conveying highly flammable products could have devastating consequences.
He called for improved driver discipline, adequate rest, proper vehicle maintenance and strict adherence to speed limits to reduce crashes involving articulated vehicles.
