Last month, several officials from the Nigerian Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), visited the NTSB.  The FRSC has authority to regulate highway safety and conduct highway safety education campaigns as well as investigate accidents and make recommendations.  FRSC officials met with Chairman Hersman and provided a briefing for Vice Chairman Hart, Member Weener, Dwight Foster and Rob Molloy (Office of Highway Safety), and Danielle Roeber (Safety Advocacy Division).  

Vice Chairman Hart provided an overview of the NTSB and led an open discussion about the similarities and differences in authority and operations of the NTSB and the FRSC.  “This visit was a unique opportunity to learn about each other and exchange ideas on how to address traffic crashes, injuries, and deaths within the economic, social, and political constraints of each country,” Hart said. 

As Nigeria develops its economy, the FRSC anticipates explosive growth in registered vehicles (7.6 million to 40 million by 2020).  Nevertheless, their ambitious goal is to cut highway deaths by more than half by 2015.  Accordingly, the FRSC is looking to make technological and process improvements, including training and perhaps a foreign exchange program with organizations like the NTSB.