The General Manager of the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute (LASDRI), Mrs. Afusat Tiamiyu has appealed to all motorists and professional drivers to ensure that they do not embark on any journey without servicing their vehicles and ensure that they are in good working condition to avoid unnecessarily loss of lives and property. She made the appeal while featuring on a Yoruba motoring programme on Traffic Radio 96.1FM, “Bosenlo”, where she focused on ‘Road Safety Precautions’ during the forthcoming Id-el-Kabir celebration.
Tiamiyu in a statement signed by Mr.Kayode Abayomi the Assistant Director, Public Affairs (LASDRI) noted with dismay that during festive periods, most commercial drivers are in haste and always in the habit of managing a damaged vehicle to embark on journeys.
She maintained that this has led to serious consequences ranging from loss of lives and property to irreparable damages to both human lives and vehicles.
In her words, “Managing an already damaged vehicle in this raining season that also coincides with Eid-el-Kabir celebration pose a great threat to your own life as a professional driver, the lives of the commuters you are conveying with such vehicle as well as other road users and so I am appealing to you to regularly check your vehicle well before embarking on any journey”.
While still giving tips on Safety Precautions during the celebration, the General Manager noted that if it is compulsory to embark on a journey during this period, it is advisable to set out early to avoid driving at night and over speeding that can lead to road accident.
“Check the condition of your vehicle before setting out, don’t manage damaged vehicle brake, check and replace your tyre if necessary, make sure you have a fire extinguisher, jerk, spanner and C-caution in your vehicle when embarking on a journey. Also check the engine oil and water in your vehicle radiator before heading out and buy enough fuel that can take you to your destination successfully.
All these are safety precautions that cannot be overlooked”. She stressed.
While enumerating the activities of LASDRI, Tiamiyu said that the institute has also been to parks and garages including corporate organizations to sensitize them on need to practice safe driving always and to also reiterate the need to follow road signs, pavement markings and all traffic rules and regulations. While wishing all professional drivers a safe and joyous Eid-el-Kabir, she advised that they must be adequately prepared for any journey they are to undertake during and beyond the forth coming celebration by ensuring that they are in the right frame of mind, their vehicles are in good condition, and to avoid drunkenness when driving and should exhibit good drivers’ etiquette and positive behavioural pattern to other road users.
