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 on Sunday in Abuja, noting that the violations persisted despite ongoing enforcement efforts.
Ohaeri said some tanker drivers exceeded speed limits to meet delivery schedules, ignoring the risks associated with stopping heavily loaded vehicles safely, particularly on busy highways.
He explained that the size and weight of articulated vehicles required extra caution when navigating bridges, bends and congested roads.
The FRSC spokesman also identified driver fatigue as a major safety concern, noting that some drivers undertook long-distance journeys, including trips 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 carrying additional goods alongside petroleum products.
He said such violations could compromise vehicle stability and expose drivers, passengers and other road users to serious danger.
According to him, the pressure to meet delivery schedules and poor driver attitudes contributed to the continued disregard for traffic regulations.
He said the corps had intensified safety education and enforcement while engaging transport operators and other stakeholders to improve compliance.
Ohaeri disclosed that the FRSC had achieved about 75 per cent success in issuing the appropriate Class G driver’s licences to relevant operators to ensure that drivers met the required qualifications.
He added that the agency was working with petroleum marketers and other industry stakeholders to strengthen safety standards in the transportation of petroleum products.
The spokesman urged tanker drivers and operators to prioritise safety over delivery schedules, stressing that violations involving vehicles carrying highly flammable substances could have devastating consequences.
He called for improved driver discipline, adequate rest, proper vehicle maintenance and strict compliance with speed limits to reduce crashes involving articulated vehicles.