Driver Training
Overspeeding and Deplorable Roads: A Deadly Mix on Nigeria’s Highways
The Alarming Data on Speed Violations
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reveals that 18,386 road crashes between 2020–2022 were attributed to speed violations: 5,472 in 2020, 6,336 in 2021, and 6,578 in 2022 . In one year 2022, 36% of all crashes were due to speeding, followed by loss of control, overtaking, and dangerous driving .
Also Read: Nigeria’s 10 Deadliest Roads in 2025: FRSC Data & Community Reports
Nigeria’s Highway Nightmare: When the Roads Fail Too
Take the Abuja–Kaduna Highway, a vital corridor for commerce, fraught with kidnappings, road abandonment, and frequent crashes . Similarly, the Lagos–Badagry Expressway has become a horror story: traders avoid it, businesses suffer, and drivers pay more to navigate the craters . In Ekiti State, roads like Igede–Aramoko–Lagos feel impassable, forcing detours and ballooning maintenance costs .
Why the Speed + Pothole Combo Is So Fatal
- High-speed crashes on bad surfaces: Overspeeding leaves no room for evasive action, drivers hit potholes, lose control, and crash.
- Vehicle damage and higher maintenance: Frequent suspension and tire damage, especially costly for commercial drivers.
- Spiral of delays and danger: Slow-moving traffic on bad roads leads impatient drivers to risky overtaking or speeding escalating dangers.
The FRSC’s Response & Gaps
The Federal Road Safety Corps has sounded alarms: speed remains the leading crash cause . Though speed limiting devices have been mandated, enforcement has gaps: in early 2022 alone, over 1,290 commercial vehicles were found without them in Lagos . Enforcement and driver education remain weak.
What Must Change: RoadKing’s Recommendations
| Key Focus | Actions Needed |
|---|---|
| Speed Management | Enforce speed limiters; deploy speed cameras on highways; launch behavioural campaigns for 18–35 age group drivers. |
| Road Infrastructure | Prioritize rehabilitation of disaster roads like Lagos–Badagry and Abuja–Kaduna; include drainage and lighting. |
| Driver Licensing Reform | Strengthen training processes and restrict unqualified or untrained drivers from gaining licenses. |
| Strategic Enforcement | Position FRSC teams at hotspot accident zones and high-speed areas with real-time monitoring tools. |
| Public-Private Collaboration | Partner with bodies like vehicle associations and digital platforms to promote safety culture and compliance. |
RoadKing Verdict
Nigeria’s road deaths are preventable. Speeding combined with neglected roads is a lethal calculus but not irreversible. It’s time authorities enforced regulations, refocused infrastructure energy, and launched behavioural change campaigns. Let’s make our roads safe, not a replay of disaster loops.
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