The speed limit device which was introduced in Nigeria with the support of FRSC, NURTW, NARTO and NUPENG/PTD to help address the issue of the increasing speed-related road traffic crashes in Nigeria has now become a controversy in the country. The device, despite the controversy, is now being fully enforced.
But the question is how successfully can this be in Nigeria? How willing are the drivers in complying with this new technology? Is the government sure that this device will help in solving the road crashes and accidents in the country? Has government considered the level of education in the country?
Before the introduction of such device, government should have considered so many factors.
In deed, the fact that the same device was a success story in England, America and other developed countries does not mean it will be successful in Nigeria.
This is because, the conditions of our roads are different; the educated level of the citizens is different and even the attitudes and behaviour of the citizens are different from those of the other countries.
Some citizen can also be very mischievous that they can tamper with the device and adjust to the particular speed they want and also, it’s officials in charge as we all know most Nigerian officials always show lackadaisical towards their job.
So government should consider all these factors before making it mandatory on motorist and making sure they put in strategies on ground in checkmating these factors .for example the government should implement an electronic device that will help in checking vehicles that have installed the speed limit devices
Eugene Rita Chiamaka is of the Department of mass communications, wrote from
Ibrahim Badamasi University, Lapai. [myad]
