Highway crashes: FRSC calls for attitudinal change of drivers

By Akintunde Jacobs, Akure

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ondo State Command, on Thursday called for attitudinal change of drivers on the highway to reduce road crashes.

Sector Commander Ezekiel SonAllah made the call in Akure during a certification organised for the drivers and safety managers of Johnvents Industries Limited, a subsidiary of CapitalSage Holdings.

SonAllah, who was represented by SRC Busuyi Komolafe, the Sector Transport Standardisation Officer said it has become imperative for all road users, especially drivers, to fight road menace and ensure safety on our highways.

“If we want our roads to be safer, our drivers need attitudinal change whenever they are on the highway.

“Most of the crashes that occur on highways are caused by human errors and if we can have change of mind by following rules and regulations of road traffic, definitely, road crashes will reduce to the minimum on Nigeria highways,” he said.

Sector Commander said that the command had trained and certified 10 drivers and four safety managers of Johnvents Industries Limited, a subsidiary of CapitalSage Holdings.

SonAllah said 71 companies or fleet operators had registered under the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme (RTSSS) in Ondo State.

Also, Corps Commander Abiodun Akinlade, the Corps Transport Standardisation Officer, said FRSC would continue to partner with all road users to reduce crashes to the minimum.

Akinlade, who was represented by Lucie Samuel, Deputy Corps Commander in charge of Inspections and Enforcement, Abuja, explained that the number of fleet operators had changed from five to two, to enable more registration from companies.

According to him, the registration will help individuals, governments and private sectors to benefit from the RTSSS programme.

Similarly, Mr John Alamu, Group Managing Director (GMD) of the organisation, who was represented by Mrs Pamela Elekwachi, Human Resources Business Partner said that the training would help the company to serve its customers well.

Alamu said that the training was organised for the company’s drivers for advancement in their careers by not being only regular drivers, but exemplary people.

“Our company involves in banking, health and agriculture, but in agriculture, we are processing cocoa beans into powder, cake butter and others.

“So we have a large fleet that moves cocoa products to our customers and clients across the country.

“If you stay where you are and not learning, you will not be growing, and if you’re not growing, how are you going to give the best service to customers and clients?

“So the training will help our drivers to work with safety in mind and ensure that they are not at risk and do not put the company at risk,” he said.

One of the participants, Mr Adeyemi Adedamola, Head Driver of the company who appreciated the FRSC and company, said that the training would help them to improve on their driving.

“I believe if FRSC can be doing this kind of training every six months, it will help and eradicate road crashes,” he said.