Too many heavy-duty trucks, many of them laden with petroleum products, have been overturning across the country, causing deaths, injuries and gridlock. A truck with a 33,000 litres capacity tank that rammed recently into a 24-seater bus and blocked the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway for an entire day is symptomatic of the frequent crashes and the danger they pose to lives, property, commerce and travel. Federal and state traffic management agencies, and law enforcement, and standards agencies should respond appropriately to reduce the menace.

Several incidents in recent weeks have featured trucks tumbling over and spilling their contents. Lives have been lost, limbs broken and vehicles, roads and adjacent property damaged.

Residents, young and old, rushing to scoop the spilt petrol, kerosene or diesel worsen the situation. Fires occur, taking lives and injuring many others. The gridlock gets worse, and the roads are damaged.

A truck laden with fuel recently crashed on the old Niger Bridge at Onitsha and caught fire. This blocked the movement of vehicles from Anambra State to Asaba, Delta State, forcing commuters to use the Second Niger Bridge.

In July, another fuel truck veered off the road and toppled to its side in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, spilling its contents. A crowd that gathered to scoop the fuel accidentally ignited an explosion and fire that killed eight persons, including a pregnant woman.

In Ijora, Lagos, last month, three fuel trucks involved in an accident caused a fire that destroyed over 13 vehicles and 12 electric poles.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency revealed that in 2022, out of the 1,259 emergency calls it received concerning vehicle disasters, 368 incidents involved truck/tanker accidents, 536 other vehicle accidents, and 46 trailer accidents. Between January 2021 and October 3, 2023, 81 persons died in tanker explosions and fire.

Apart from bad roads, faulty vehicles and reckless and drunk driving, a major cause of frequent crashes is lax enforcement of the law and standards. The various governments should upgrade and enforce traffic and vehicle standard regulations.

In Lagos, the law precludes tankers from the highways till 9 p.m. But this rule has been virtually abandoned. Another regulation banning heavy-duty trucks from plying the city’s overhead bridges are no longer enforced. Consequently, trucks fall regularly on Lagos bridges.

Many Nigerian roads are defined by potholes, craters and gullies. Trucks plying them are prone to overturning. The three tiers of government must ensure constant maintenance of the roads, expansion, and provision of new roads.

Most of the heavy-duty vehicles, including those conveying containers and petroleum products, are old, rickety, and ill-maintained. Many use worn-out tyres, lack signalling lights or secure latching devices.

It is the responsibility of the government to safeguard the lives and property of citizens. Ensuring safety on the highways is part of that task.

In response to the frequency of fatal accidents involving heavy-duty trucks, the European Commission has in the last 20 years enacted Europe-wide strict safety regulations through its ‘Whole Vehicle Type Approval System’ and other rules. Previously having one of the world’s worst road safety records, according to the World Health Organisation, Rwanda launched reforms backed by the World Bank beginning in 2007 that have helped it upgrade highway safety standards to enviable heights.

The Federal Road Safety Corps, state and federal capital vehicle inspection offices and other agencies concerned with traffic, road safety, vehicle certification, and standards, should be more diligent in their duties.

Companies operating trucks, and individual truck owners should ensure proper training, retraining and discipline of their drivers, as well as regular maintenance of their vehicles.The accident scene

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