The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has warned motorists to desist from exceeding the 100 km/h speed limit on expressways as the festive season approaches.
Speeding, according to FRSC, is one of the major causes of road accidents which must be curbed to save the lives of commuters.
The corps gave the warning amid the alarming rate of road accidents in the country.
According to recent data from the FRSC and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), more than 21,500 lives have been lost to road crashes in the past four years in the country.
The NBS recorded 6,205 fatalities from road accidents in 2021, while the FRSC reported 6,456 deaths in 2022. In 2023 alone, 5,081 people died in road traffic accidents.
In an interview with Saturday PUNCH, the FRSC spokesperson, Olusegun Ogungbemide, stated that speeding remained a primary cause of fatal crashes.
Ogungbemide emphasised that adhering to speed limits could significantly reduce the number of fatalities on the roads.
He said, “Excessive speed is a major factor in fatal crashes. Even when other factors contribute to accidents, if speed is controlled, the risk of fatalities is greatly reduced. We are urging motorists to always think about their loved ones and adhere to the regulated speed limits”.
Clarifying the speed regulations, Ogungbemide said, “Motorists should not exceed 100 km/h on expressways, 90 km/h on highways for private vehicles, and 90 or 80 km/h for commercial vehicles when necessary.
“These limits are flexible and depend on road conditions. A driver should not maintain these speeds on poor roads, and must always use common sense in choosing the appropriate speed, especially when the roads are in good condition”.
The FRSC spokesperson also advised passengers to be cautious about their drivers, urging them not to allow anyone to drive recklessly.
