A BILL TO AMEND THE FEDERAL ROAD SAFETY COMMISSION ACT TO MANDATE CHILD RESTRAINTS AND DRIVER REST PERIODS
Bill · Transport
A Bill amends the Federal Road Safety Commission Act to mandate child restraints for children and rest periods for long-distance drivers. It targets parents travelling with children, commercial drivers, and enforcement officers. This reduces road accidents and fatalities.
A BILL TO AMEND THE FEDERAL ROAD SAFETY COMMISSION ACT TO MANDATE CHILD RESTRAINTS AND DRIVER REST PERIODS
What Is This Policy?
A proposed bill to amend the Federal Road Safety Commission Act to make the use of child restraints (safety seats) in vehicles mandatory for children and to require compulsory rest periods for drivers covering long distances, in order to reduce road accidents and fatalities.
Who Does It Target?
Parents and caregivers travelling with children in vehicles Commercial and private long-distance drivers Vehicle manufacturers and dealers FRSC enforcement officers at checkpoints
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
Reduce child fatalities and injuries in road accidents by mandating age-appropriate child restraint systems, and curb driver fatigue accidents by legally requiring rest periods for long-distance drivers.
Key Features
Child Restraint Mandate: Requires all vehicles transporting children below a specified age or height to be equipped with approved child safety seats. Driver Rest Periods: Proposes minimum rest intervals (e.g., 30 minutes after every 4 hours of driving) for drivers on long-distance routes. Enforcement: FRSC officers would be empowered to check for child restraint compliance and driver rest logs at checkpoints. Penalties: Prescribes fines for non-compliance with child restraint and driver rest requirements.
Current Status
Rollout Stage: Bill stage — awaiting National Assembly enactment Coverage: Nationwide road transport sector upon enactment Beneficiaries: Children; long-distance road users; road safety system Funding: Not applicable — regulatory bill
How to Access
Currently: FRSC encourages use of child restraints voluntarily Upon enactment: purchase approved child restraints for all children in vehicles Long-distance drivers: maintain rest logs as required Application method: Monitor National Assembly at https://www.nass.gov.ng for bill progress.
Important Terms
Bill provisions may change before final enactment Current road traffic regulations encourage but do not mandate child restraints Driver fatigue is already identified as a leading cause of road accidents in Nigeria
Official Resources
Website: https://www.nass.gov.ng Contact: National Assembly / Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)
Legal Framework
Introduced under the legislative powers of the National Assembly vested by Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as an amendment to the Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment, etc.) Act 2007. Operates alongside the National Road Traffic Regulations 2012, the Motor Vehicles (Third Party Insurance) Act, and the Highway Code. Aligns with WHO Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety and ECOWAS road safety protocols.