Vehicle Testing in Nigeria

Vehicle Testing in Nigeria
Dr SA Balogun
HOD Prof Studies
What parts of vehicle do you inspect ?
- Body/chassis –
(a) Vehicle Interior-steering, security, horn, hand-break, head rest, seatbelt, speedometer, door interior, etc.
(b) Vehicle Exterior-brake pads, door latches, carpets, wiper, suspension, mirrors, windshield, tyres, under chassis nut/bolts for slackness and or missing, all grease nipples and joints bumpers, body, battery, vehicle body/floor for rust and tear etc.
What pars of vehicle do you inspect ? (cont)
- Transmission suspension and steering system (including the Exhaust, system and emission)
- drive the vehicle around and listen for odd sounds as may be coming from the clutch assembly, gearbox (at selection, release and disengagement), propeller shaft and its universal joints, rear axle and the wheels.
Driving the vehicle further and subjecting its suspension system to shock noting its resistance to the above as well as the effect on true rolling motion to the steering geometry.
Check all steering linkages. Check tyres for correct pressure, tread depth and casing condition.
Note all cuts, humps casing fracture etc.

- Braking on speed under varying road condition.
Apply the brake to determine the stopping distance and effect of braking on true rolling motion of the vehicle at varying speeds.
Note the effort applied to effect a stop.
Loose out one front and one rear wheels to determine the extent of wear of the brake shoes and pads as well as wheel drum or disc.

- Safety warning and emergency devices- use seat belt in vehicles and crash helmet on cycles, properly spaced out seating arrangement with escape routes and emergency doors, driving mirrors, horns, windscreen, speed regulators, first aid kits, controlled emission level, warning triangle one fire extinguisher, horns, jacks, wheels, spanners all in proper working condition.

Based on the above either OFF THE ROAD (if the vehicle is un-road worthy) or a color coded CERTIFICATE OF ROADWORTHINESS and roadworthiness validity Tag affixed to the vehicle (if the vehicle is found roadworthy)
This is issued every 3and 6 moths for passenger and goods transport vehicle.
For this to be properly done, MVA offices have to be equipped with testing stations and patrol equipment

Mode of testing
Future outlook……
Since the burgeoning demand of safety need of the Nigerian road transport system has continue to outpace ability of law enforcement agencies to respond to them through traditional means
And that there is incontrovertible evidence of un-roadworthy vehicle related crash
The only option is involvement of private sector in vehicle inspection as follows;
- build and operate testing centers
- While FRSC and Police penalize any un-road worthy vehicles on the road
- the penalization will drive the motorist to go for test
What are the procedure for carrying out inspection ?
The mechanical Examination is expected to be carried out every three, and six months for passengers and goods transport vehicle respectively.
The examination will be carried out yearly for private vehicles.
- An Inspection pass is issued to vehicles heading for ECOWAS region.
- The validity tag is affixed to vehicle windscreen and it shows the date of issuance and expiration.
- The number on the vehicle tag as well as that of General motor receipt (GMR) is often quoted on the Roadworthiness certificate.

- Engine, operation-inspect engine, Internal engine condition, engine rubber sitting/mounting as well as battery sitting for wear, tear and rust
- Lamp
(a)signal, parking, reversing, Turning, Brake, Hazard, full and dip
(b)Headlamp and other lights
(c)inspect all wiring system beginning from the battery, test all light for their functionality.
What does the law says ? (cont)
But the FRSC got involved in the scheme vide CAP 141 of section 3(2)b which empower her to produces the road worthiness validity tag which is issued along with road worthiness certificate by the RTO as a means of harmonizing the procedure of Inspecting un-roadworthy vehicles.
Consequently, FRSC produces its manual specifying function for FRSC, Police and RTO respectively

CONTENT
Introduction :find out how dangerous is un-roadworthy vehicles ?
Why do we have them on our roads ?
What does the law says ?
What are the types of inspection ?
What are the procedures for carrying out inspection ?
What parts of vehicle do you inspect ?
What are the mode of testing
What are the future outlooks

What are the types of inspection ?
. - Pre registration Inspection-inspection of vehicle brought for registration to ensure it conforms to NRTR
- Routine Inspection every 6/12 months for commercial/private vehicles
- Special Inspection/ Evaluation Inspection - Spot check done on the highways
- Accident Inspection /crash investigationdone on accident vehicles to help court proceedings (to be discussed later)

Why do we have unroadworthy vehicles ?
Cars consigned to car junk yard in Europe are being imported to Africa while we make the fake parts as well at the detriment of our safety and economy (until recent ban on cars above 5 years)
Where as cars, fitted with autonomous cruise control devices and roads with transponders are being used in the developed world
In fact, production has stopped on most of the cars imported into the country
Introduction
The danger caused by Road Traffic Crash is well known
The prevalence of RTC in Nigeria is reputed to be higher than that obtained in all developing countries
It also account for up to 1 % of GDP of most African countries
It account for more sudden death /morbidity than all communicable diseases put together
Newspaper report in March 2010 over 103 people died in Auto crash in kogi and Edo states last weekend alone
Unfortunately un-roadworthy vehicles are one of the tripod causes of the RTC
The others being Human and Road respectively
Why ? (cont)
The culture of " I will manage" has retroactively affected Nigerians maintenance culture
Hence nothing is done until total breakdown of cars
Some people can drive a car for 2 months without opening the bonnet to check the oil and water-in so far as the vehicle start each morning
Do you wan to attribute this to poverty or carelessness
The FRSC survey (2001) shows that 64% of commercial vehicles are not roadworthy
An incontrovertible evidence from my intuition shows that these may be off-the road 5 years of use
While preparing this paper, A random sample of vehicles in FRSC Academy shows that 60% of the vehicles are above stipulated 5 years old (mine inclusive)
Even thought FRSC management ordered all staff to submit their drivers licence it would be better if vehicle inspection certificate is also submitted
Why ? (cont)
Recently the U.S compelled Toyota to withdraw cars with faulty breaks from their markets
With the recent green house campaign, the emission standard has been stepped up in U.S
Beginning from August 2002 all auto makers are to turn over RTC data linked with faulty tyres to National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) –this is a body similar to FRSC in Nigeria

What does the law says ?
The National vehicle Inspection scheme gives guidelines on vehicle testing in Nigeria.
It is one of the schemes earlier embarked upon by the FRSC to stem the high road crash rate in Nigeria.
The duty of vehicle Inspection was moved from PWD during the Second World War to Police due to conscriptment of PWD Engineer to War duties and then back to the Ministry of works in 1964.

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Vehicle Testing in Nigeria

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