The deaths of a mother and her child after two container-laden trucks overturned at Mile 2 in Lagos have renewed calls for stricter safety enforcement, proper cargo securing and the use of technology to prevent fatal accidents involving heavy-duty vehicles.

The victims were trapped beneath the trucks and their containers near Freeman Market, inward Apapa, during the weekend incident, according to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA). Their remains were taken to the Police Mortuary in Yaba.

LASTMA said its rescue and recovery teams cordoned off the affected section of the road and diverted traffic through an adjoining service lane while a crane and a heavy-duty tow vehicle were deployed to remove the overturned trucks.

The agency’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, called for a thorough investigation to establish the cause of the crash. Investigators are expected to determine whether mechanical defects, overloading, improper cargo distribution, driver negligence or other factors contributed to the incident.

The latest tragedy has revived concerns about the dangers posed by container-carrying trucks on Lagos roads, particularly along busy freight routes serving the Apapa port corridor.

The Mile 2 incident follows other fatal crashes involving container trucks in Lagos.

On January 29, 2023, a container-laden truck fell onto a commercial bus at the Ojuelegba bridge, killing nine people, including two children. One woman survived the crash. The Federal Road Safety Corps subsequently recommended installing barriers to restrict articulated vehicles from using the bridge.

A report published in 2023, citing Federal Road Safety Corps figures, said truck-related crashes in 2022 claimed 92 lives and left 398 people injured in 261 recorded incidents. The figures underscore the risks associated with heavy-duty vehicles, although the data cited in that report do not establish that all the crashes involved container spillage.

In response to the latest incident, advocates for improved logistics safety have called for more rigorous vehicle inspections, proper cargo securing and stronger accountability for truck operators.

They argue that preventive measures should extend beyond emergency response after crashes have occurred to include checks before trucks leave terminals, monitoring during transit and enforcement of roadworthiness requirements.

Technology-based measures could include fleet-tracking systems, digital monitoring of transport routes, cargo-locking mechanisms and data-driven risk assessments to help operators and regulators identify safety concerns before vehicles enter public roads.

However, such systems would need to complement, rather than replace, physical inspections, effective regulation and enforcement. Their effectiveness would depend on proper implementation, compliance and oversight.

The advocacy message also called for collaboration with 7PSolutions to promote technology-driven logistics safety, although the material provided did not detail a specific product, deployment plan or independently assessed results from the company.

LASTMA has urged truck operators to maintain their vehicles, secure their loads properly and comply with road safety regulations. The agency has also called on relevant authorities to investigate the Mile 2 crash and determine responsibility.

Until the investigation establishes what caused the trucks to overturn, it remains unclear whether mechanical failure, excessive loading, cargo distribution, driver conduct or a combination of factors was responsible.

The deaths of the mother and child have once again highlighted the consequences of crashes involving heavy cargo vehicles and the need for measures that reduce risks before trucks reach busy public roads.