By Seye Olumide
AT the last count, there were about 1.5 million vehicles on Lagos roads, 10 and even 20 times the number in most of the other states of the federation.
With the unsavory reputation they have earned for themselves with regards to their poor and reckless driving habits, it is no wonder then those road accidents with the attendant injuries, loss of lives and property are also higher in Lagos than elsewhere in the country.
This sorry state of affairs has been borne out by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), which has confirmed that of the 400, or so lives, that are lost to road accidents across the country, Lagos accounts for quite a substantial percentage.
It may be in the effort to check the continual loss of lives through road accidents that the FRSC has established a much stronger presence in Lagos State than in any other state.
Yet, road accidents have not reduced and the fatalities continue to climb.
Last week, three people lost their lives when a speeding truck careened off the road and ran into them as they waited at a bus stop near Okokomaiko on the Mile Two-Badagry Expressway.
A week before, two commercial buses crashed into one another along Ikotun-Ijegun Road. One of the drivers was seriously injured as well as some of the passengers.
It must be in continuation of efforts to save the lives of Lagosians from reckless drivers that the Lagos State government has gone ahead to establish a Drivers' Institute following which professional drivers, corporate organisations and other road-users have been advised to seize the opportunity to join in the crusade of reducing accidents and deaths on the highways.
Speaking to The Guardian yesterday, the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute, Mr. Peter Oyedokun, said the rate at which lives and property were lost in road accidents was so high that the government would no longer fold its arms and allow such to persist.
As many Lagosians had known, Oyedokun confirmed that among the factors identified as causes of road accidents, the human factor of ignorance, willful recklessness and poor training of drivers, were major challenges.
He said that his interaction with the drivers, particularly commercial bus drivers, showed many of them did not even have good sight or could interpret common road signs.
He said: "The institute was established to re-train professional drivers with the aim of reducing road crashes and improving driving culture in the state."
While explaining the objectives of the Institute, he said: "It is meant to provide courses of instruction, training and set standards for driving schools in the state in collaboration with the Ministry of Transportation, to ensure that all professional drivers in the employ of government and private organisations attend the institute for training and re-training, at least, once a year towards updating their skills after which a certificate of competence is issued to successful drivers."
He added that the institute would also provide facilities to assist registered driving schools, compile and maintain data of all professional drivers in the state.
"The functions of the institute would include training professional drivers in driving skills, road traffic and regulations, to educate trainees in the proper use of the highways, improving driving techniques of all categories of drivers and organise conferences, seminars and educational programmes for professional and non-professional drivers from time to time.
"It would also ensure that professional drivers are certified medically, mentally fit by authorised medical authority, provide prospective employers with the driving history of professional drivers and certification of existing driving schools," he said
A driver of a commercial bus in Lagos, Ganiyu Adeyemi, was among those who visited the Lagos Drivers' Institute, Oshodi branch recently, just to update his knowledge. He was invited informally by one of his friends, an official of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).
While the interactive lecture was ongoing, particularly on the aspect of how and how not to enter a junction and roundabout while driving, Adeyemi was barely able to maintain control of his emotions.
Close to tears, he blamed himself for a mistake he made two years ago, when he hurriedly entered into a junction and an accident occurred that led to the death of two of his passengers.
When he was asked by The Guardian the reason for his sober mood, Adeyemi said: "If I had known what I was told today about the appropriate method of entering or approaching a junction and roundabout, the accident I had a few years ago that led to the death of two of my passengers and injury to several others, including myself, would not have happened."
Also, Moshood Wahab, a driver who plied Ketu to Ikorodu was not so happy with himself while listening to the lecture. He was enlightened over some of the things he had been doing wrongly but thought were right while driving.
According to him, "From the interactive session in the institute, I discovered that my driving style was not different from that of a person who wanted to commit suicide or ignorantly endangering the lives of others.
"For me, I realized that the way I had been overtaking other vehicles without taking cognizance of the rules of overtaking was not the best style of driving. Two years ago, I had an accident at Ogolonto Bus Stop along Ikorodu Expressway while trying to overtake a trailer.
"If I had known what I am taught today, it would have been different. The rules are not difficult and I have been made to realise that many of my so-called colleagues, especially commercial bus drivers should not be allowed on the wheels.
He said: " It is known among us that majority of commercial bus drivers begin as conductors. There is no formal training. I did not have any and that explains the ignorance we have about road signs and other basic regulations that guide safe driving. Many drivers in Lagos, particularly commercial bus drivers, are not supposed to be behind the wheel."
He suggested that the state government should make every effort to ensure that drivers, at least, attend the institute to broaden their knowledge.
On the frequent rate of road accidents and traffic jam in the Lagos metropolis, a businessman, James Ehito blamed "human inadequacy and recklessness on the wheel," as a major factor.
According to him, "Most often, the accidents on Lagos roads are basically caused by human error and lack of basic knowledge of driving rules. It is the shocking truth that most drivers cannot interpret driving codes."
He also wondered how many drivers use recommended glasses.
"Does that mean all drivers have good sight? Of course, it cannot be, which is why I would support the institute to further carry out tests on drivers".
The Commissioner for Transportation, Prof. Bamidele Badejo, had explained that the institute, of which one is established in each of the five divisions of the state, was not a parallel body or alternative to the driving license issued by the Federal Government.
According to him, "We are only trying to introduce more sanity on the roads and ensure the frequency of road carnages caused by human errors is reduced.
"One of the functions of the institute is to determine how good the sight of any driver is before he could be allowed to drive. The first step for anybody that would pass through the institute is to go for an eye test and if the person passes the test, he proceeds to the data bank where his particulars are obtained and documented before he moves to the stimulator where his skills and ability to respond to sudden situations are measured.
"All these will help drivers and save more lives on our roads."
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