FRSC Nigeria: strongly committed to the UN Decade of Action
Insight Insight newsletter– October 2011 Edition
Vol um e1
Iss
INTERVIEW WITH EDNA M. MAMONYANE, JOHANNESBURG METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT SPOKES PERSON
□ NIGERIANS DRIVE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD—ABBY MAMAHLODI LIST OF COUNTRIES AND THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THEY DRIVE ON
THE MTT TURBINE SUPER BIKE
SPEED MANAGEMENT
ONE-THIRD OF THE WORLD‘S VEHICLES DRIVE ON THE LEFT
ue
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TABLE OF CONTENT
Insight A publication of the
CLICK ON PICTURE TO NEVIGATE TO THE PAGE
Interview with Edna M. Mamonyane Pg 5
Federal Road Safety Corps Nigeria An interview with Mr. Abby Mamahlodi, SA cab driver Pg 8
EDITORIAL BOARD Publisher:
Osita Chidoka
List of countries and the side of
Corps Marshal/Chief Executive
the road they drive on Pg 10
Editor–In–Chief: OC Oladele (DCC) Editor:
The MTT turbine super bike Pg 14
KD Alegieuno (ARC)
MEMBERS VO Ogunnupebi
Safety involves attitude Pg 15
(ACC)
AR Obagbemiro (SRC) CB Nwokolo
(ARC)
DO Enakireru
(ARC)
0I Ikoku
(ARC)
COMACE speech Pg 17 COMACE
WEBSITE www.frsc.gov.ng
Speed management Pg 22
ADDRESS Federal Road Safety Corps, RSHQ, Wuse Zone 7, Abuja, Nigeria Abuja EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES Phone: +234 8077201236, +234 7036136152 E-mail: insight@frsc.gov.ng pau@frsc.gov.ng
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Brain damaging habit Pg 26
The roundabout Pg 28
World fastest commercial train Pg 30
World fastest commercial airplane Pg 31
Insight newsletter– October Edition
FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
but Ghana is instead addressed as Republic of Ghana. What of China, that is
Have you ever wondered why Nigeria is officially addressed as the Federal Republic of Nigeria?. Nigeria practices Presidential system of Government and has a President and Vice President, so does Ghana, our next door brother,
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You. Nigeria is 51 years old this October and at Insight, we wish the country happy in-
called Peoples Re- dependence annipublic of China, versary. even though they have a President. Tanzania has both a President and Prime Minister but is referred to as United Republic of Tanzania. As you ponder over this, i would rather want you reminiscence about what a transformed Nigeria means to
The Editor of your darling Insight was part of the FRSC‘s delegation to South Africa and he seized the opportunity to share with you the country‘s road safety practice. You will find the story useful.
Insight newsletter– October Edition
FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
There is a lesson the Corps can learn from the South African practise especially as it regards deployment of patrol men and training of cadets at the Academy and Training School. Nigeria changed to the left hand driving in 1973.
The answer partly
bine super bike is lies in the fact the world‘s first that the British turbine power
motorcycle and the world‘s second wheel driving motorcycle powered by turbine engine. This edition provides you insight into the world‘s most expensive production motorcycle
Highway code is the second best selling book in Britain, next to the Holy Bible. Have you bothered to buy a personal copy of Nigeria‘s Highway code? The fastest commercial train has
If you want to
machine.
know the coun-
Are you still won- Same for the dering why an av- world‘s largest
tries that still drive on the right hand, you will find the answers in here. 4
The MTT Tur-
erage driver on British road is knowledgeable
begun operation.
commercial plane. If you are thirsty, then join
about road signs? us to read more.
Insight newsletter- October Edition
INTERVIEW WITH EDNAWITH M. MAMONYANE, JOHANNESBURG METROPOLIEXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW TAN POLICE DEPARTMENT SPOKES PERSON
These officers are later broken into three, with each group specialising on a particular core function, however every officer is expected to be able to handle any of the three core functions. ENFORCEMENT: We have patrol officers that deal with road policing; we also engage in road block as well as joint policing with the South African Police. In road policing we deal with whatever we see as a problem at a particular time. For instance in places like Soweto which is regarded as entertainment area there is always high The PAU team visited the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) where they had a chat with the metro police spokesperson, Edna M. Mamonyane. Despite her tight schedule she
the weekends. So we normally mount road blocks during these periods with particular focus on drink driving as such we breathalyse drivers.
found time to discuss with the team on
By so doing we arrest drivers whose al-
some of their operational activities:
coholic level is above 0.02 BAC. It was
CORE FUNCTIONS OF THE JMPD: At the entry point, officers are taught the three core functions of the department at the Academy. The three basic functions of JMPD are; 1.
Crime prevention
2.
Road Policing
3.
Bye-laws of the city of Johannesburg
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record of drink driving especially during
0.05 before the government brought it down to 0.02 BAC to discourage motorists from drinking. Somehow it has a positive effect on road users. For instance when friends are going out for a drink, they make sure that the driver does not drink until it is his turn to be a passenger.
Insight newsletter- October Edition
INTERVIEW WITH EDNAWITH M. MAMONYANE, JOHANNESBURG METROPOLIEXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW TAN POLICE DEPARTMENT SPOKES PERSON
watch dog. Operators who manned the cameras always inform the police on trouble areas which of course help to solve a lot of traffic problems. GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE We are lucky in South Africa we don‘t have the problem of having a government official interfering with our job. Even Ministers are issued ticket when STAFF STRENGTH: We have 3700 Metropolitan Police uniform staff, of this number, 1700 is for patrol while the others carry out crime prevention functions. TEAM COMPOSITION FOR PATROL: We normally have about 40 to 60 in a particular operation covering different routes; there is no limit to number of people in a team most especially when we want to make a big impact. SPEED VIOLATION There are different fines on different level of speed. On the freeways vehicles are allowed to run at a maximum of 120km per hour unless stipulated by the law. Speed limit in built-up areas is 60km per hour. Pedestrians on the other hand are not supposed to walk on the freeway. CCTV There are CCTV cameras in the city of Johannesburg. The cameras serve as a
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they contravene the traffic laws. NOTICE OF OFFENCE Johannesburg has more offences in its notice of offence than any other province/state in South Africa. If you observe, most of the immigrants coming to South Africa will first get into Johannesburg before proceeding to other provinces as such we have to deal with varying traffic issues here. However with the AARTO law there will be uniformity in the notice of offence among the provinces in South Africa. Presently, the AARTO law is used only in J‘burg and Pretoria as a pilot programme. INPUT IN TRAFFIC LAW In SA there is always a public debate. The government put forward a gazette for public participation before a particular traffic law is implemented into law. At the end we enjoy the public support when enforcing these laws.
Insight newsletter- October Edition
EXCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW INTERVIEW WITH WITH EDNA M. MAMONYANE, JOHANNESBURG METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT SPOKES PERSON
MOB ATTACK We don‘t experience mob attack instead we have the community helping us. Sometimes we receive call from the members of the public to come and enforce a particular traffic situation prevalent in their area. PROFESSIONALISM In the Academy new intakes spend 6 months learning everything about the job. They then spend the next 6 months on the practical aspect of the job. After 12 months of both theory and practical learning, the graduating officers are issued a diploma certificate. Our staff also receives in-service training from the United State FBI in addition to other professional trainings. RANK STRUCTURE Chief of Police Management
Directors Deputy Directors
Administrative
The Chief Superintendent
staff
Superintendent:
The planning of operation starts with the superintendent
Ground men
The inspector The sergeant:
He is the main strategies who distribute the officers during patrol
Officers
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Insight newsletter– October
Edition
AN INTERVIEW WITH MR. ABBY MAMAHLODI , A SOUTH AFRICAN AIRPORT CAB DRIVER
traffic police? AM: Yes, they checked my driver‘s license and also checked if my vehicle is road worthy. They look at licence disc on your wind screen INS: Have you ever been booked for an offence? AM: Yes, for seatbelt violation. I was Mr. Abby Mamahlodi is one driver too
booked R200
few who had truly stupefied me. His
INS: How did you feel?
attitude to road safety is very re-
AM: I knew what I did was wrong, I
markable. You could have a deep sleep
was sombre. Since then I don‘t fail to
in his cab and be rest assured that
wear my seatbelt.
you would get to your destination in
INS: At what speed do you drive on
one piece. He obeys traffic rules as if it were made by him. He is also very knowledgeable about all the traffic rules and regulations in South Africa. We were truly impressed that we had to have a short interview with him. Here is an excerpt of the interview; We met Abby at the South African airport INS: May we meet you? AM: My name is Abby Mamahlodi, an airport cab driver INS: How long have you been driving? AM: Since 1993 INS: How long have you been into the business of airport taxi? AM: Six years now INS: Have you ever been stopped by
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the road? AM: On a busy road I run at 60 kilometre per hour. I also look at the signage for speed limit which I obey religiously. INS: How do you feel when people do not obey speed limit? AM: Here in South Africa people tend to obey traffic rules perhaps because of the traffic robot and strict enforcement by our officers. If you violate speed limit, the police have a way of catching up with you. They have all your information in their system. Thanks to technology. You have seen yourself, almost everything in this country is computerised. Go to the restaurants and you see the sell sales girl
Insight newsletter– October
Edition
AN INTERVIEW WITH MR. ABBY MAMAHLODI , A SOUTH AFRICAN AIRPORT CAB DRIVER
Punching the computer to calculate what you have to pay after which she issues you a receipt. INS: When the traffic police stop you
trian walk AM: Yes I do. INS: Thank you AM You are welcome
are they polite? AM: Very polite, they tell you your offence and give you a ticket. Sometimes they become harsh when you are harsh. INS: Have you ever attempted offering them bribe to waive your offence? AM: The police can arrest you for offering them bribe so I don‘t even think about it. I tend to do the right thing so that I don‘t even think of offering anyone a bribe. INS: When you said that Nigeria drive on the wrong side of the road what do you mean by that? AM: Well it was on a lighter mood. You
Abby‘s licence disc pasted on his wind screen
see we keep right you keep left. Left is left; right is right. LAUGHS INS: What is the average kilometre you cover in a day AM: 250 kilometre per hour INS: How much do you buy a litre of fuel? AM: R10/litre INS: Have you ever been involved in an accident? AM; Never! I am always very careful INS: Do you often observe the pedes-
The JMPD tow truck stationed at a strategic point
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Insight newsletter– October
Edition
LIST OF COUNTRIES AND THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ON WHICH THEY DRIVE
When you are travelling to a country, it is important to know what side of the road the traffic drives especially when you intend to drive in such country. In the interest of safety, it will help you prepare in advance. Nigeria changed to left hand drive in 1972. It is estimated that 3rd of the world‘s population drive on the left. We have made available list of countries that drive on the left side of the road as well as countries that drive on the right side of the road. COUNTRIES WHERE TRAFFIC KEEPS TO THE LEFT 1. Anguilla 2. Antigua and Barbuda 3. Australia 4. Bahamas 5. Bangladesh 6. Barbados 7. Bermuda 8. Bhutan 9. Botswana 10. Brunei 11. Cayman Islands 12. Christmas Island (Australia) 13. Cook Islands 14. Cyprus 15. Dominica 16. East Timor 17. Falkland Islands 18. Fiji 19. Grenada 20. Guernsey (Channel Islands) 21. Guyana 22. Hong Kong 23. India
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24. Indonesia 25. Ireland 26. Isle of Man 27. Jamaica 28. Japan 29. Jersey (Channel Islands) 30. Kenya 31. Kiribati 32. Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Australia) 33. Lesotho 34. Macau 35. Malawi 36. Malaysia 37. Maldives 38. Malta 39. Mauritius 40. Montserrat 41. Mozambique 42. Namibia 43. Nauru 44. Nepal 45. New Zealand
Insight newsletter– October
Edition
LIST OF COUNTRIES AND THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ON WHICH THEY DRIVE
LIST OF LEFT-DRIVING COUNTRIES 46. Niue 47. Norfolk Island (Australia) 48. Pakistan 49. Papua New Guinea 50. Pitcairn Islands (Britain) 51. Saint Helena 52. Saint Kitts and Nevis 53. Saint Lucia 54. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 55. Seychelles 56. Singapore 57. Solomon Islands 58. South Africa 59. Sri Lanka 60. Suriname 61. Swaziland 62. Tanzania 63. Thailand 64. Tokelau (New Zealand) 65. Tonga 66. Trinidad and Tobago 67. Turks and Caicos Islands 68. Tuvalu 69. Uganda 70. United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) 71. Virgin Islands (British) 72. Virgin Islands (US) 73. Zambia 74. Zimbabwe
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COUNTRIES WHERE TRAFFIC KEEPS TO THE RIGHT 1. Afghanistan 2. Albania 3. Algeria 4. American Samoa 5. Andorra 6. Angola 7. Argentina 8. Armenia 9. Aruba 10. Austria 11. Azerbaijan 12. Bahrain 13. Belarus 14. Belgium 15. Belize 16. Benin 17. Bolivia 18. Bosnia and Herzegovina 19. Brazil 20. British Indian Ocean Territory (Diego García) 21. Bulgaria 22. Burkina Faso 23. Burundi 24. Cambodia 25. Cameroon 26. Canada 27. Cape Verde
28. Central African Republic 29. Chad 30. Chile 31. China, People's Republic of (Mainland China) 32. Colombia 33. Comoros 34. Congo 35. Congo (former Republic of Zaire) 36. Costa Rica 37. Croatia 38. Cuba 39. Czech Republic 40. Denmark 41. Djibouti 42. Dominican Republic 43. Ecuador 44. Egypt 45. El Salvador 46. Equatorial Guinea 47. Eritrea 48. Estonia 49. Ethiopia 50. Faroe Islands (Denmark)
Insight newsletter– October
Edition
LIST OF COUNTRIES AND THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ON WHICH THEY DRIVE
LIST OF RIGHT-DRIVING COUNTRIES
51. Finland 52. France 53. French Guiana 54. French Polynesia 55. Gabon 56. Gambia, The 57. Gaza Strip 58. Georgia 59. Germany 60. Ghana 61. Gibraltar 62. Greece 63. Greenland 64. Guadeloupe (French West Indies) 65. Guam 66. Guatemala 67. Guinea 68. Guinea-Bissau 69. Haiti 70. Honduras 71. Hungary 72. Iceland 73. Iran 74. Iraq 75. Israel 76. Italy 77. Ivory Coast 78. Jordan 79. Kazakhstan 80. Korea, Democratic People's Republic of (North Korea) 81. Korea, Republic of (South Korea) 12
82. Kuwait 83. Kyrgyzstan 84. Laos 85. Latvia 86. Lebanon 87. Liberia 88. Libya 89. Liechtenstein 90. Lithuania 91. Luxembourg 92. Macedonia 93. Madagascar 94. Mali 95. Marshall Islands 96. Martinique (French West Indies) 97. Mauritania 98. Mayotte (France) 99. Mexico 100. Micronesia, Federated States of 101. Midway Islands (USA) 102. Moldova 103. Monaco 104. Mongolia 105. Morocco 106. Myanmar (formerly Burma) 107. Netherlands 108. Netherlands Antilles (Curaçao, St. Maarten, St. Eustatius, Saba) 109. New Caledonia
110. Nicaragua 111. Niger 112. Nigeria 113. Northern Mariana Islands 114. Norway 115. Oman 116. Palau 117. Panama 118. Paraguay 119. Peru 120. Philippines 121. Poland 122. Portugal 123. Puerto Rico 124. Qatar 125. Réunion 126. Romania 127. Russia 128. Rwanda 129. Saint Barthélemy (French West Indies) 130. Saint Martin (French West Indies) 131. Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France) 132. Samoa 133. San Marino 134. Sao Tome e Principe 135. Saudi Arabia 136. Senegal 137. Serbia and Montenegro 138. Sierra Leone 139. Slovakia
Insight newsletter– October
Edition
LIST OF COUNTRIES AND THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THEY DRIVE ON
LIST OF RIGHT-DRIVING COUNTRIES
140. Slovenia 141. Somalia 142. Spain 143. Sudan 144. Svalbard (Norway) 145. Sweden 146. Switzerland 147. Syria 148. Taiwan 149. Tajikistan
150. Togo 151. Tunisia 152. Turkey 153. Turkmenistan 154. Ukraine 155. United Arab Emirates 156. United States 157. Uruguay 158. Uzbekistan
159. Vanuatu 160. Venezuela 161. Vietnam 162. Wake Island (USA) 163. Wallis and Futuna Islands (France) 164. West Bank 165. Western Sahara 166. Yemen
Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_on_the_left_or_right
SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE AFRICAN LIONS
Unlike all the other African big cats, lions are social animals, living in prides consisting of up to three males, several more females and their cubs. Though they are the reputed ―king of the jungle‖, lions are actually quite lazy. Their renowned hunting prowess is mostly because they hunt in groups. A lion can not chase their prey for very long distances. The female lions (lionesses) do most of the hunting, while the males defend their pride‘s territory. Only the males have manes, the long bushy hair around their necks and heads. However, some maneless male lions are found in Tsavo national park in Kenya, and in Senegal in West Africa.
Source:www.africaguide.com/wildlife
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Insight newsletter– September Edition
THE MTT TURBINE SUPER BIKE
The MTT turbine super bike which is also known as Y2K Turbine super bike is the world‘s first turbine power motorcycle and the world‘s second wheel driving motorcycle powered by turbine engine. The motor bike is designed by Ted McIntyre of marine turbine technologies Inc and powered by a Rolls-Royce Allison 250 series turbo shaft engine, producing 238kw (320hp), and 425ft/lbs of torque on the dyno jet 200. The MTT turbo shaft engine drives the rear wheel via a two speed gearbox. The bike has forward and rear-looking radar detector with laser scrambler carbon fibre fairing, one touch smart start ignition and more. MTT turbine super bike has recorded top speed of 227mph (365km/h) with a price tag of $150,000 (N23.3million). MTT has achieved the first rank among the top10 fastest bikes and it is recognized by Guinness world record as the ―most powerful production motorcycle‖ and the ―most expensive production motorcycle‖ unlike other contemporary motorcycles. With weight of 227kg 500lbs, seat height of 800mm, 31.5inches, 650degree C exhaust and two speed automatic gear box. The incredible machine which has created the ultimate in high performance machines was featured in the Warner brother‘s movie ―TORQUE‖.
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Insight newsletter– October Edition
SAFETY INVOLVES ATTITUDE
DO Enakireru (ARC)
―When tempers get frayed on the road, it is really difficult to cultivate good qualities,‖ observes one driver in England. No doubt you agree. The desire to retaliate is strong. ―Try very hard to control any feelings of irritation,‖ is the admonition of one experienced Japanese driver. ―If you are upset for some reason, hum or sing.‖ ―Temperament,‖ according to driving examiner Miller, ―is the most important thing.‖ A driver with 30 years‘ experience, in both Africa and Europe, offers this estimate: ―Driving is a question of character. A person‘s driving manners reflect the way he treats others in everyday life.‖ A Canadian driver focuses attention on the value of the right attitude, writing: ―When a driver‘s license is regarded as a ‗privilege‘ rather than a ‗right,‘ traffic etiquette will improve our highway safety appreciably.‖ ―If safety is an attitude of mind,‖ states a British Department of Transport driving manual, ―then humility is one of its main ingredients.‖ For many, this will mean a change of temperament. Is that possible? Yes. It involves being conscious of others, being unselfish. How well the Biblical golden rule expresses it: ―All things, therefore, that you want men to do to you, you also must likewise do to them.‖—Matthew 7:12. But how does this work out in practice?
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Do not expect too much of others. RTC statistics clearly warn of the peril from dangerous drivers. Be determined to drive defensively, or as one driver put it: ―Drive as though everyone else on the road is a potential hazard.‖ Recognize, too, that you can learn from others. Analyze the quality of their driving. ―There isn‘t much magic to becoming a Driving Ace,‖ asserts Jim Kenzie, writing in The Toronto Star. ―All you need is some knowledge, some common sense, [and] some consideration for the other guy.‖ Whether you are a new driver or an experienced one, remember that the road is not the place for showing off, for impatience, or for selfishness. The Britain‘s Highway Code which was first published in 1931, a government publication and the ―No. 2 best-selling book of all time, second only to the Bible‖ in Britain, and the Nigeria‘s Highway Code offers many times clear safety guidelines for all road users. In a survey that was carried out by members of PAU to monitor the altitude of
Insight newsletter October
Edition
drivers toward road safety in Abuja, the result shows that safety involves altitude. By having the ‗right altitude‘ when driving whether someone is seeing you or not, by developing ‗car sympathy,‘ by ‗reading the road,‘ by concentrating and anticipating, as well as by cultivating a humble attitude, you will succeed in driving—safely!
TECHNOLOGY NEW INVENTIONS IN FLYING: MARTIN JET PACK
Just like the flying car, the Martin jet pack has been an invention that people have clamoured for years. Thanks to Glenn Martin, you can now have a working jet pack that can reach speeds of up to 60mph. Soon, that is. In another successful step towards invention, the Martin Jet Pack has reached a new record for the highest flight (5,000 feet) and the longest flight (10-minutes) this past Memorial Day weekend. While the Jet Pack still needs a little more work, it‘s said over 2500 people have already signed up to purchase the Jet Pack and it could be released at the end of this year for approximately $75K.
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Insight newsletter– October Edition
―THE ROLE OF FEDERAL ROAD SAFETY CORPS (FRSC) IN THE PROMOTION OF GOOD GOVERNANCE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY IN NIGERIA‖ BEING THE TEXT OF A PAPER PRESENTED BY THE CORPS MARSHAL AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE FEDERAL ROAD SAFETY CORPS OSITA CHIDOKA AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR POLICY AND STRATEGIC STUDIES, JOS HELD ON THURSDAY 30 SEPTEMBER ,2010. cont from last edition
COMACE SPEECH
NATIONAL SECURITY
Security is not confined to state but exists as a shared
Imohighe (2003) defined security to
responsibility of all level of
imply freedom or safety from danger or the absence of threat and danger. He
the society, among the people
asserted
and regions.
that
without
security,
individuals within a state will find it difficult
to
engage
in
productive
activities. Indeed, the isolated cases of threats to lives and property in various parts of the country in recent past clearly attest to this assertion.
Security threats go beyond military challenges but also include issues of poverty, injustice, oppression and natural disasters.
Security is also defined as an allencompassing concept that enables citizens live in peace and harmony; have ac-
Deriving from the above therefore,
cess to resources and the basic necessi-
the responsibility of ensuring secu-
ties of life; participate fully and freely in the processes of governance; and enjoy the protection of fundamental human right. This definition conceives security as having the following features:
Security as a holistic phenomenon that is not restricted to military matters but rather, involves political, economic, social and environmental matters.
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rity of citizens by the state includes provision of stable and sustainable economic environment and social justice. In the words of Kant, in ―Perpetual peace‖ quoted in ―Peace, Security and Good Governance‖, ― People who feel secure and free, governed by the rule of law and not of men, are much less likely to go to war with each other – or across borders – than those who don‘t‖.
Insight newsletter– October Edition
Walter Lippmann (1943) ‘A nation has security when it does not have to sacrifice its legitimate interests to avoid war, and is able, if challenged, to maintain them by war. ― The National Defense College of India (1996) defines it as an appropriate and aggressive blend of political resilience and maturity, human resources, economic structure and capacity, technological competence, industrial base and availability of natural resources and finally the military might Professor Charles Maier (1990) of Harvard defines it "as a capacity to control those domestic and foreign conditions that the public opinion of a given community believes necessary to enjoy its own self-determination or autonomy, prosperity and wellbeing In 2010, Barack Obama included an allencompassing world-view in his definition of America's national security interests as:
The security of the United States, its citizens, and U.S. allies and partners;
A strong, innovative, and growing U.S. economy in an open international economic system that promotes opportunity and prosperity
Respect for universal values at home and around the world; and
An international order advanced by U.S. leadership that promotes peace, security, and opportunity through stronger cooperation to meet global challenges. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FEDERAL
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ROAD SAFETY CORPS The Federal Road Safety Corps is one of the paramilitary agencies established by the Federal Government in 1988 to operate as a Lead Agency in the area of Safety and Traffic Management in the country. Its creation 22 years ago was as the increase of live and properties due too road crashes. The corps therefore evolves policies and programmes aimed at achieving its mandate by ensuring that traffic rules and regulations are obeyed, roads are free from obstruction. The corps maintains constant surveillance on all roads, to ensure that traffic offenders are arrested and punished while victims of road crashes are rescued and given immediate medical attention. The corps also carries out researches into causes of road crashes and proffers solutions. FRSC MANDATE S.10(2) of FRSC (Establishment Act) 2007 outlined the responsibilities of the Corps as follows: Clearing obstruction on the highways Preventing and minimizing road traffic crashes Educating drivers, motorists & other members of the public on the proper use of the highway Designing and producing vehicle number plates and driver‘s licences Conducting researches into the causes, effects & methods of preventing road traffic crashes Providing prompt attention and care to victims of road traffic crashes Determining and enforcing speed limits for all categories of roads and vehicles
Insight newsletter– October Edition
Cooperating with agencies and groups engaged in road safety activities to prevent crashes on the highways
ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE: The Corps has 12 Zonal Commands; 37 Sector Commands; 164 Unit Commands and 138 Information Processing centres spread across the states of the federation and the Headquarters, which operates various department and Corps offices. At present 263 FRSC formations are linked with Vsat to facilitate prompt information management and supervision. FRSCs CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROMOTION OF GOOD GOVERNANCE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY The FRSC in the last three years has been aggressively involved in pursuing policies aimed at ensuring good governance and attaining national security for the country. Some of such contributions are summarised as follows HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT: The Corps presently has 13,000 personnel as regular staff that are enforcing road traffic regulations and ensuring that the victims of road traffic crashes are promptly attended to. In solving critical manpower development needs of the Corps, we have enlisted 15,000 Special Marshals as volunteers in road safety management and traffic administration. These Special Marshals are sourced from credible professionals in the public and private sector. The Special Marshal scheme is unique and is the 19
largest volunteer force in Africa. In addition there are 12,000 Road safety Club members drawn from NYSC members on national service and secondary school students and primary school pupils. They all collectively play the roles of educating the public on the proper use of the highway. Towards subjecting FRSC operations to international standards the Corps is at the verge of attaining ISO 9001:2008 QMS certifications. Meanwhile 68 officers of the Corps have been trained as system auditors, and the Corps is participating, through Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), in ISO 39001 Traffic Safety Management Standards. The Corps has established FRSC Academy and Training School to enhance staff development. Meanwhile, from 2007 till date, a total of 42 staff has undergone various courses abroad while 3380 others have been trained at various institutions locally. The World Bank has also sponsored training need assessment of the Corps with a view to providing an enduring development programme for the officers and men. WELFARE AND MOTIVATION In order to motivate staff in contributing to good governance and national security, Management has put in place the following programmes: Construction of Wole Soyinka Mass Housing Estate at Masaka, for junior officers, comprising of 201 housing units; Construction of Lokogoma Housing Estate, for middle cadre officers which is presently ongoing with 345 housing units;
Insight newsletter- October Edition
Introduction of e–payment financial solution, which has led to prompt payment of salaries and allowances. FRSC commenced implementation of e– payment even before it was made mandatory by the federal government Establishment of a micro finance bank to promptly meet staff financial needs Promotion of Staff in line with due process. Staff Optimization exercise designed to enhance professionalism and productivity.
Electronic capturing of offenders since
OPERATIONS AND ICT INFRASTRUCTURE Let me stress that in our desire to build a world class organisation with capacity to play its lead agency role, we adopted information and communication technology (ICT) as tool for our operational and administrative active activities. Consequently, we presently have 263 V-sat through which our offices across the country are linked for all administrative and communication needs. To enhance our operational and rescue capabilities, we commissioned the Call/Data Centre in December 2008 which links us to all our offices, field commands, patrol vehicles and relevant hospitals through the use of Close User Group (CUG). In addition, we have deployed technol-
these motor parks. Information from mo-
ogy to collate and manage data for effective motor vehicle administration. We have built and maintained a driver
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2005 has provided virtual records for about 2 million offenders. Furthermore the ongoing exercise has captured 1.4 million offenders, while new offenders are being captured through banks. The Register is available for profiling, insurance and license revocation. For effective operational planning, 667 parks are currently placed on daily surveillance. Between 01 Jan 2010 to 24 Sept 2010, 42,377,635 passengers travelled from these 667 monitored parks. In addition, 3,403,897 vehicles travelled from tor parks are shared and are useful to State Security Services and the Police for crime detection and prevention. In the same vein, information on tankers and trailer drivers are shared with other agencies for background checks. Towards regulating the operations of fleet owners, the Corps launched the Road Transport (RTSSS),
Standardization which
prescribes
Scheme minimum
safety standards for all fleet operators with minimum of five vehicles. Since launch in 2007, 2,204 fleet operators have registered with the scheme, while 307 Safety Managers have been trained and 1,510 Drivers have been trained under the scheme. The process for full certification of Fleet operators is on-going,
data base which currently have informa-
while enforcement would commence soon
tion on 3 million drivers nationwide.
To be continued in the next edition
Insight newsletter– October Edition
BE INSPIRED!
. "All achievements, all earned riches, have their beginning in an idea." Napoleon Hill
"A real decision is measured by the fact that you've taken a new action. If there's no action, you haven't truly decided." Tony Robbins "Most of us have far more courage than we ever dreamed we possessed." Dale Carnegie . "If you look to others for fulfilment, you will never be fulfilled. If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy with yourself. Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the world belongs to you." Lao Tzu . "Accept yourself as you are. Otherwise you will never see opportunity. You will not feel free to move toward it; you will feel you are not deserving." Maxwell Maltz . "A man needs self-acceptance or he can't live with himself; he needs self-criticism or others can't live with him." James A. Pike . "There are powers inside of you which, if you could discover and use, would make of you everything you ever dreamed or imagined you could become." Orison Swett Marden "The only time you ever have in which to learn anything or see anything or feel anything, or express any feeling or emotion, or respond to an event, or grow, or heal, is this moment, because this is the only moment any of us ever gets. You're only here now; you're only alive in this moment." Marianne Williamson "Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success." Napoleon Hill
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Insight newsletter– October Edition
SPEED MANAGEMENT
Speed management encompasses a range of measures aimed at balancing safety and efficiency of vehicle speeds on a road network. It aims to reduce the incidence of driving too fast for the prevailing conditions, and to maximize compliance with speed limits. An appropriate speed, in the context of a Safe system, is a speed level that considers traffic safety as the main goal, in the context of mobility and prevailing conditions such as roadside development, the mix of users along the road, the frequency of access to the road (including intersections), the volume and mix of traffic, environmental concerns and the quality of life for residents living along the road. Aims of speed management Speed management aims to reduce the number of road traffic crashes and the serious injury and death that can result from them. Speed management needs to employ a range of measures that will include enforcement, engineering and education. The more wide-
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CB Nwokolo DRC
spread the measures, particularly enforcement, and the greater the range, severity and implementation of sanctions against speeding, the more compliance will result. To achieve wide public acceptance of enforcement, speed limits need to be appropriate – and recognized as such by the public. Speed limit selection is a critical indicator of the safe speed for that section of road. This imposes a substantial responsibility on the limit-setting authority. In setting appropriate speed limits it is useful to have the following information for the section of road under review: speed measurements measurements of traffic flow and mix traffic crash data information from the police on speeding offences the design speed and criteria used to build or rehabilitate the road land use and property access adjoining the road physical characteristics of the road and roadside presence of vulnerable road users. This information will be useful in comparing proposed limits with the current travel speeds (including the speed distribution) and crash rates. The purpose is to identify the scale of the change in travel speed necessary for safe operation, and to identify the measures necessary to achieve this.
Insight newsletter– October Edition
Without substantial, and often expensive, traffic calming works, it is necessary to recognize that speed limits without enforcement and enforcement without suitable sanctions usually result in ineffective speed management. Consequently, speed enforcement and sanctions will generally always be needed to ensure compliance with speed limits. Setting speed limits
are taken, the change in average speed is only 25% of the change of the speed limit. Other information shows that if speed limits are changed either upwards or downwards by 10 km/h, the change in average speed is only 2–4 km/h. While these changes can improve safety records, it is important to have an effective enforcement strategy when dealing with the issue of speed. Safe systems and the role of speed
Speed limits are widely used to define acceptable speeds. They provide a basic indicator to road users of the maximum speed allowed under the law. In this sense, they can be described as representing a society‘s judgement, through the legal process, of the balance between the various issues surrounding speed choice. There are no absolute rights and wrongs in selecting limits. It is for a government to determine its priorities, which most likely will change as a society develops. It is undeniable, however, that if a government wishes to reduce the death and injury toll in a country, then the Safesystem approach is the way to go. Such a system cannot be achieved overnight, but by accepting the principles, and applying them as infrastructure, laws and enforcement develop, so the numbers and severity of crashes will be reduced. It should be noted that speed limits on their own will have only modest effects on actual speeds. A study cited in the OECD/ECMT report shows that, in places where speed limits are changed and no other actions such as law enforcement
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In all regions of the world, to prevent road death and disabling injury, a traffic system better adapted to the physical vulnerabilities of its users needs to be created – with the use of more crashprotective vehicles and roadsides. The aim of a safe system is to achieve a road system that allows for human error without leading to death or serious injury. It recognizes the limits of force that the human body can survive and focuses on systematically addressing various factors involved in specific crash types to reduce the risk of injury. Crashes are always likely to happen, even though there is a continuing focus on prevention. The Safe-system approach aims to minimize the severity of injury when a crash occurs and is based on the premise that road users should not die because of system failings. One important cornerstone in the Safe-system context is that the care of human life and health is considered to be more important than anything else. The long-term goal is that no one should be killed or seriously injured
Insight newsletter– October Edition
in road traffic. The consequences for speed management of adopting a Safe-system approach result in, for example: a 30 km/h speed limit being used in built-up areas where there is a mix of vulnerable road users and motor vehicle traffic a reduction in the likelihood of fatal side -impact crashes at intersections (it is often preferable to build a roundabout instead of installing traffic lights, and it is advisable to limit approach speeds to less than 50 km/h) a reduction in the likelihood of fatal head-on crashes on two-way single carriageway roads (median barriers should be used with high volumes of traffic, or speed limits should be kept below 70 km/ h). It should be the aim of low and middleincome countries first to stabilize any worsening situation, and second to create road safety policies rooted in ‗good practice‘ as demonstrated by betterperforming countries. Safe-system thinking can contribute to the immediate needs of low and middle-income countries
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and, as for all countries, to more rapid, long-term road safety improvement. The Safe-system approach requires system managers to understand crash causes in order to assess crash risk. It is critical that the key risk factors that contribute significantly to crashes are identified and understood. To assist this aim, accurate crash and injury data collection and analysis systems need to be put in place if they do not already exist. The key elements in the Safe system are: To manage speed Carefully targeted, wide-scale infrastructure programmes, vehicle safety improvements and enforcing appropriate speed limits will reduce the likelihood of crashes occurring and/or reduce their severity to survivable levels. For example, it is not feasible to lower speeds on rural roads to 50 km/h (the speed at which a side-impact collision would be survivable) if there are trees or poles adjacent to the roadway. The answer lies in removal of the hazards or installation of protective barriers. Other measures to reduce the likelihood of vehicle-control loss, or vehicles leaving the road, could also be considered, including provision of sealed shoulders and audible edge lining, together with vehicles being equipped with electronic stability control features. On the other hand, speed limits of 30–50 km/h in areas of higher pedestrian crash risk (from vehicles) will substantially reduce pedestrian fatality risks. These examples assume that road users are complying with road rules. However, the challenges inherent
Insight newsletter– October Edition
in deterring non-compliant behaviour are substantial, and in lower income countries improvements in training of new drivers and improved enforcement will all need to play a role. Focus on the importance of vehicle safety Improving a country‘s vehicle fleet offers major benefits, and as much as possible should be done to encourage the purchase and supply of safe vehicles. Today, most modern cars protect a seat-belted occupant up to about 70 km/h in a frontal collision and up to about 50 km/h in side impacts. The European Transport Safety Council has estimated that if every car owner upgraded their vehicle overnight to the safest in its class, then fatalities on Europe‘s roads would drop by 40–50%. It is likely that such a development in low and middle-income countries would result in far greater benefits. Improved pedestrian safety ratings for vehicles and improved object detection technology will also lead to lower severity of crash outcomes. The benefits of intelligent speed adaptation are now available to any country prepared to legislate for its provision in new vehicles, and to develop and maintain the necessary digital maps of speed limits. This is an important opportunity for major reductions in road trauma, but strong government leadership will be needed to bring it about. Management of network safety
road
and
roadside/
While ensuring that new roads provide
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improved levels of safety, the real challenge is how to set and enforce speed limits on the existing road network. If the speeds are too high because of the road standard (high crash-risk) and infrastructure solutions are not cost effective (because of, for example, low volumes/low crash numbers) there will be a need to lower and enforce the existing speed limits. However, the public needs to be made aware of why this is being done and how they will benefit from such changes. Benefits of speed management Promoting a successful speed management programme following a Safesystem approach clearly has many benefits. The most obvious one is of course the reduction in the number of deaths and injuries resulting from crashes. The safety benefits of lowered travel speeds include: greater time to recognize hazard reduced distance travelled while reacting to hazards reduced stopping distance of the vehicle after braking increased ability of other road users to judge vehicle speed and time before collision greater opportunity for other road users to avoid a collision less likelihood that a driver will lose vehicle control. Many governments have demonstrated a reluctance to enforce limits effectively, as there is considerable public reaction to such measures. A commitment to support enforcement will be essential to achieving safe travel speeds by drivers.
Insight newsletter–
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH
October Edition
HEALTH
BRAIN DAMAGING HABIT
1. No Breakfast People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration. 2. Overeating it causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power. 3. Smoking It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease. 4. High Sugar consumption Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development. 5. Air Pollution The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our 20 body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency. 6 . Sleep Deprivation Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells. 7. Head covered while sleeping Sleeping with the head covered increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects. 8. Working your brain during illness Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.
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Insight newsletter– October Edition
FROM MY MAIL BOX
9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage. 10. Talking Rarely Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain
CRAZY NOT EQUAL TO STUPID One truck driver was doing his usual delivery to Institute of mental health. He discovered a flat tyre when he was about to go home. He jacked up the truck and took the flat tyre down. When he was about to fix the spare tyre, he accidentally dropped all the bolts into the drain... As he can't fish the bolts out, he started to panic. One patient happened to walk past and asked the driver what happened. The driver thought to himself, since there's nothing much he can do; he told the patient the whole incident. The patient laughed at him & said "can't even fix such a simple problem.... No wonder you are destined to be a truck driver..." Here's what you can do, take one bolt each from the other 3 tyres and fix it onto this tyre. Then drive to the nearest workshop and replace the missing ones, easy as that" The driver was very impressed and asked "You're so smart but why are you here at the Institute of mental health.?" Patient replied: "Hello, I stay here because I'm crazy........ Not STUPID !"
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Insight newsletter– October Edition
THE ROUNDABOUT; WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 0I Ikoku
(ARC)
A roundabout is a one-way roadway around a circular central island. Entry to roundabouts is controlled by 'give-way' markings and signs. Vehicles already on the roundabout typically have right-of way. Roundabouts cause little delay in low to medium traffic flows, and require less maintenance than signalized intersections. Geometric design is crucial to the safety of a roundabout. Curves on the approaches to require all vehicles to slow down before entering. The centre island layout ensures that traffic moves in a one-way direction and that slow speeds are maintained around and at exits to the roundabout. The rules governing roundabout use also help to improve safety. Drivers approaching a roundabout need to slow and give way to vehicles As a result, roundabouts can virtually eliminate often severe right-angle, left-turn (or right-turn), and head-on collisions. ISSUES SURROUNDING A ROUNDABOUT
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Solid structures should not be located on the central island. High painted kerbs around the island can reduce the risk of it being run into. Poor visibility on the approach to roundabouts, or high entry speeds, can lead to crashes.
Insight newsletter– October Edition
Facilities to help pedestrians cross the arms of the intersection should be provided in most urban locations. Roundabouts can be difficult for large vehicles, particularly buses, to use. Designers should be conscious of the risk that roundabouts can be present for cyclists and other slow vehicles, such as animal drawn vehicles.
BENEFITS OF A ROUNDABOUT
Minimal delays at lower traffic volumes. Little maintenance required. Crash severity is usually lower than at cross intersections.
HISTORICAL FACTS
Nigeria had its independence in October 1960 under a constitution that provided for a parliamentary government. The first post-independence National Government was formed by a conservative alliance of the NCNC and the NPC. From 1959 to 1960, Jaja Wachuku replaced Sir Frederick Metcalfe of Great Britain as the First black Speaker of the Nigerian Parliament - also called the House of Representatives. Jaja Wachuku was said to have received Nigeria's Instrument of Independence also known as Freedom Charter - on October 1, 1960, from Princess Alexandra of Kent, the Queen's representative at the Nigerian independence ceremonies.
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Insight newsletter– October Edition
WORLD‘S FASTEST COMMERCIAL TRAIN
en
Shanghai maglev is the world's fastest train that operates commercial services, zipping through Shanghai at incredible speed some travellers liken it to flying. They are ingenious timesavers connecting major cities. The train is faster than TGV in France and also faster than the latest CRH conventional wheel train in China. It works using magnetic levitation (from which the term 'magnetic levitation train' or 'maglev' derives) which is expensive to build Investment for the Shanghai maglev topped $1.2 billion, hence the reason it hasn't been rolled out to the rest of China. Magnetic levitation really is futuristic technology at its best. The train does not have wheels or an engine,
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but instead are propelled forwards by powerful magnets, that actually push the train 10 millimetres off the guide way, or track. The Shanghai Maglev is operated by the Sahnghai Maglev Transportation Development Company Limited
Source:
en.wikipedia.org
Insight newsletter– October Edition
WORLD‘S FASTEST COMMERCIAL AIRPLANE BOEIGN 787 DREAM LINER
Boeing delivered the first 787 dreamliner to Japan‘s ALL NIPPON Airways after 3 years of delay The fuel economy plane is made from lightweight composite materials. Boeing says the single aisle plane features the industry‘s largest windows, a lower cabin altitude and cleaner air. These features are aimed at making passengers arrive
systems maintenance requirements to ground-based computer systems. First flight of the 787 Dreamliner occurred on December 15, 2009. From a total of 266 Dream iners booked, at the cost of $193 m USD each , Africa accounts for 47.. Ethiopian Air - 31, Kenya Airways—9 and Arik Air, Nigeria—7
destination more refreshed. The 787-8 Dreamliner will carry 210 - 250 passengers on routes of 7,650 to 8,200 nautical miles (14,200 to 15,200 kilometers), while the 787-9 Dreamliner will carry 250 - 290 passengers on routes of 8,000 to 8,500 nautical miles (14,800 to 15,750 kilometers). Modern systems architecture is at the heart of the 787's design. It is simpler than today's airplanes and offers increased functionality and efficiency. For example, the team has incorporated airplane Healthy monitoring systems that allow the airplane to self-monitor and report
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Source: www.boeing.com
Insight newsletter– October Edition
PLANNING ADVISORY UNIT Federal Road Safety Corps, RSHQ, Wuse Zone 7, Abuja, Nigeria Abuja
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Converting data into intelligence for making evidence based decision -Conducting global monitoring and benchmarking -Conducting surveys and internal consulting for depart-
Phone: +234 8077201236, +234 7036136152 E-mail: insight@frsc.gov.ng
ments and Corps offices -Offering technical assistance and coaching to departments and Corps offices
For Advert Placement, Please Contact The Editor
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