Senate Urges FRSC to Improve on Emergency Response Time
……FRSC set to launch phone app to show black spots and alert crash portions
The Nigerian Senate on Thursday asked the Nigerian Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to improve on its emergency response time.
According to the Senate, the Commission’s delayed response has contributed to loss of lives and property and constitute an embarrassment to the image of the Commission.
Speaking during the Commission’s familiarisation visit to the Senate Committee on Federal Character, Senator, Babangida Hussaini, senator representing Jigawa North West Senatorial District, cited the Sallah eve Abuja -Kaduna highway accident incident, urged the Commission to take deliberate steps in improving on its emergency response.
He suggested to the Commission to engage more marshals to support its work. Adding that the Commission can confer on members of the National Assembly honorary marshals.
Responding to the Committee, Corp Marshal, Shehu Mohammed said, the Commission is working assiduously to improve on the existing situation. He however said the lack of toying trucks has limited his Commission’s operation and appeal to the committee for intervention.
The Federal Road Safety boss also said that they are set to launch a phone application that will show black spots and alert crash portions while travelling on highways.
The corps marshal said the phone application would be a one-stop shop where all FRSC products and directives could easily be accessed.
“The app will show and give significant information about road black spots and alert of any crash spot ahead while travelling. The app system will inform and remind the users of due dates to renew their driver’s licence, service their vehicles and other notable information,” he said.
He added that the corps was set to leverage technology in securing body cameras for personnel, as well as electronic booking and administration to reduce cost and paperwork.
According to Mr Mohammed, the corps is working tirelessly on “zero tolerance” for death when crashes occur on the road.
The road safety boss, however, said that a holistic approach would be applied to the road environment due to human beings’ vulnerability to crashes.
Crashes, he said, should not result in death or permanent injury.
According to him, there will be a holistic approach to work on safer roads, vehicles, safer road users and post-crash care.
The corps marshal assured efforts were in place to curtail sales of alcoholic drinks on the road and in motor parks. He added that town hall meetings had been planned to sensitise community leaders, residents, and transport stakeholders to the menace of selling and drinking alcohol on the roads and in parks.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Allwell Onyesoh, assured the CM and the commission of the Committee’s support. Adding that the committee will convince the Senate on the importance of improving funding for the Commission.
