A very sane Nigeria is categorically not aware that most of the sensitive vehicle tools are being used indiscriminately by some Nigerians, thus misusing the main reason for their invention.
The unauthorized use of emergency vehicle devices such as sirens among other sensitive vehicle paraphernalia including tinted glass and dedicated number plate continued to be on the rise in the contemporary Nigerian society which prohibits the use of a partisan measure towards its wholesale elimination.
The unlawful indiscriminate use of the above devices by unauthorized motorists is, at the very least, mainly responsible for most of the recent traffic embarrassments and anomalies on our various major roads which if a rigorous and rigorous approach is not taken to deal with, One fears waking up one morning to hear that the country’s traffic authorities like the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), among others, have been overtaken by a group of “bloody” civilians.
A siren, an emergency device commonly used in most countries around the world, can be described as an instrument that is installed or carried by an emergency vehicle other than the devices that a standard non-emergency vehicle is fitted with such as headlights, steering wheels, windshield and windshield. It is generally an audio device that displays colored lights at the same time in the process.
The siren was invented to only be used by emergency vehicles to include the fire truck, ambulance and police car, as they are usually involved in dangerous situations including relatively uncommon accidents such as road traffic collisions. This group of vehicles is required to reach accidents as soon as possible and hence in many countries like Nigeria, it is given preference in regards to obeying certain traffic rules.
For example, such vehicles can treat a red traffic light or stop signal, have immunity, as giving way, or are allowed to breach the speed limit, as the case may be. Emergency cars, though, may not be able to treat a railroad crossing alike as giving way because the train cannot be warned in time to stop before the crossing to allow the car to pass; Hence, an emergency vehicle may not have its usual privileges when it comes to heavy road freight or passenger trains.
Thus, due to the inevitable role of emergency vehicles in many countries including Nigeria, they are equipped with visual warnings to alert members of the public, especially motorists and road users, either when they are approaching said vehicle or vice versa. Visual warnings are generally categorized into passive and active.
Negative visual warnings are usually related in nature to vehicle design, and include the use of high-contrast patterns such as striking or unusual panels, reverse reflective designs, flaming decals, etc. directly on the vehicle.
Another method is to boldly inscribe the name or purpose of an emergency service organization such as Fire Service, Ambulance, Red Cross et al, on the front of the vehicle. This allows drivers of other vehicles to easily identify an approaching emergency vehicle through their rear-view mirrors.
On the other hand, active visual warnings are usually in the form of flashing colored lights known as beacons or lightbars which are often accompanied by a variety of sounds. Flashing with sound attracts the attention of other road users including pedestrians when an emergency vehicle is approaching; It also provides a warning to motorists who approach a parked vehicle in a dangerous situation on the road.
For its part, tinted glass, which refers to any glass that has been specially treated with a material such as film or coating that reduces the transmission of a light beam through it, is intentionally intended to block and/or reflect different types of light. on the needs and preferences of consumers.
One of the most common ways to use tinted glass is on car windows. Almost all vehicles come with tinting at the top of the windshield to reduce solar glare when the sun is low in the sky.
Besides, the windows of many vehicles, especially cars, are tinted either at the factory or as an aftermarket add-on by the consumer, to provide privacy for vehicle occupants as well as to reduce heat buildup in the vehicle while it is parked outside.
In terms of the functions of vehicle tinted glass, apart from regulating light or heat, the most prevalent reason for using tinted glass especially in a society like ours is to provide privacy for vehicle occupants.
However, it is crucial to recognize that, unlike the health features of tinted glasses, they prevent timely recognition of the actual appearance of the motorist along with other vehicle occupants.
This is why the federal road safety laws in Nigeria regulate the degree to which vehicle windows, especially front windows, can be tinted. These limits are put in place in order to enable the police and other security agents to identify the driver and occupants of the vehicle in question, and also to allow motorists to see through the windows of other vehicles in order to detect hazards that would otherwise not be noticed. Similar regulation or restriction of the use of sirens is also granted.
Moreover, a customized or personalized number plate, which creates a unique identity for any vehicle to which it is applied, is another sensitive tool used indiscriminately by car owners in Nigeria. In essence, a custom registration number plate, which is much easier to memorize, hides the age of the vehicle unlike a generic number plate that reveals the age of the vehicle it holds.
In short, the personal number plate, the use of which is controlled equally by the FRSC, is used extensively for three main purposes, namely: to create uniqueness, to be easy to keep, and also to disguise the age of the vehicle, as the case may be.
However, in some quarters such as the entertainment industry, most individuals use it to showcase how much they influence their fans or the public at large, thus mocking the basic essence of the device. Because of this continuous breach, the relevant authorities have at various times banned or critically warned about the continued use of these sensitive devices by unauthorized Nigerians.
It is appalling to note that despite constant stern warnings, most Nigerians like politicians and what have you, still flout the law on a daily basis with impunity, thus defusing the public of the common notion that ‘no one is greater than the law’ ‘. It is even more disturbing to realize that these people received unofficial or illegal permission to use the devices from senior officials or employees of the relevant law enforcement agencies such as the FRSC.
Such preferential treatment influential Nigerians always receive from the aforementioned spoilers in the name of “immunity” really invites public outcry as well as tougher action towards its eradication.
Against this background any member of the Federal Security Council along with other relevant bodies engaged in vandalism or any form of criminality should be expressly dismissed and then duly prosecuted regardless of the person whose ox was plundered. In the same spirit, any unauthorized citizen—regardless of status—found missing is also meant to face the wrath of the law.
Among other things, there is an urgent need to review most laws or acts that mandate the use of sensitive vehicle devices to include sirens, tinted windows and a dedicated number plate, with a view to making adjustments where necessary.
The review, as stated above, should be recklessly undertaken without further ado keeping in mind the social implications of the gratuitous lifestyle which has been relentlessly demonstrated by many Nigerians who believe themselves to be outlaws of the law of the land always reckoned as no Respects anyone.
What’s more, the country’s various paramilitary military organizations must be very careful when they recruit new members into their fraternities with a view to ensuring that no one of any questionable character benefits from this practice as long as it continues. They should be aware of the fact that membership in these bodies is not intended for all or all Nigerians.
It is indisputable that the continuing alarming pace of acts of vandalism seen in several quarters in Nigeria is mainly attributed to the harboring of scams, albeit ignorantly, by various sensitive communities or corporate bodies across the country.
Therefore, it is expected that governments at all levels will work very quickly towards ending this disturbing rate of heresy that is eating so deeply into our collective bone marrow. think about it!
Originally posted 2022-11-29 10:21:12.