MOVING through the city of Ibadan, Oyo State, especially around busy areas like Challenge, Iwo Road, UI, Ojoo, Molete, Gate, Mokola roundabout, to mention a few, one can say there are a great number of vehicles on the road now as against previous years. The city is gradually becoming larger. Traffic jams are so rampant, especially in the aforementioned areas and one begins to wonder if the city is becoming yet another Lagos State. This is because Lagos State is known for traffic holdups that can hook you for hours from time immemorial especially among the South-West States. The ancient city is now competing with the latter in this regard. As much as we have more private and public cars, motorbikes and tricycles on our roads, the safety of both drivers and other road users is very essential, especially with the rate at which road accidents occur in recent times especially within the city and the nation as a whole.
It doesn’t seem as if most Nigerian drivers know much about traffic rules and laws. The recklessness of many of these drivers all over the country is something to be worried about. They don’t drive as if they had any education about the pros and cons of driving. For instance, most motorbikes do not know the right side of the road to drive on when overtaking, nor do they know what zebra crossing means. Many of them do not care to know why safety helmets are important and very few use it. This explains why accidents involving motorcycles and tricycles are usually very fatal. Many of the public car and bus drivers, on the other hand, who drive around in battered vehicles, go about town like kings. As bad as the vehicles are without brake lights, without side mirrors, even without good brakes, they are still plying the roads without the slightest inhibition. You see buses leaking from the roof and with rusted bodies carrying commuters still. Some that aren’t leaking will use rags to hold their doors. Some are without conductors. They begin to abuse you if you as much as bring the deteriorating states of their vehicles to their attentions.
Another vital issue is that most of these drivers do not have valid driver’s licenses. They do not see the need for it as there is no proper way by which they are being punished for it. Some are used to bribing their ways out if caught and life goes on. The vehicles also do not have up-to-date papers. Most of them are not roadworthy. As for most tri- cycles and motorcycles, their riders are not bothered about side mirrors and most of them even remove them deliber- ately. A motorcycle rider whom I spoke with on the need to get side mirrors said he could see with his side eyes and didn’t need any mirror. That is the mentality of the majority of these men. Those who left theirs do reduce the size and make it so short with the claim that it disturbs them. Any good driver should know side mirrors are actually for safety purposes to make the driver or rider see any vehicle coming behind and to know how to avoid collision. This shows the level of ignorance of most of these drivers. Many of them do not even have the necessary things that should be in their vehicles in case of emergencies or safety like the C-caution, jack, spanner or fire extinguisher.
In the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, till the early parts of the 1990s, it is very rare to see a driver or rider without a proper license to drive in Nigeria. It was a criminal offence to be on the road and handle any type of vehicle without passing the driver’s test. You could get jailed for it. You go for the tests till you get a pass that you are fit to drive and some are not given the license if they are not deemed fit. Vehicles are also pronounced road worthy before they can be allowed to ply the roads. The drivers are made to memorise all road signs and the need to take cognisance of them for their safety and that of others. These days, many who have the licences without doing the needful are all over the highways putting their lives and that of others at risk. The body in charge, i.e. the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), seems to be complacent about the issue. It is high time the FRSC turned a new leaf and began to enforce the need to take road safety into consideration by forcing the drivers to take safety measures and make it a priority. This is highly recommended so as to curb the incessant acci- dents on the roads in recent times.
The era of physical driving tests should be re-introduced as soon as possible. People should be taken for medical tests to ascertain that they are mentally and physically fit to drive on the road. Public drivers should be given annual lectures on the need to avoid reckless driving, excessive drinking and overspeeding. They must be taught the importance of exercising patience while on the wheels. Any driver flouting traffic rules like driving on a one-way route should be charged to court immediately. They should be made to pay a huge fine for disobeying the rule. This might curb the way many drivers both private and public divert to passing the one-way to beat traffic which usually leads to fatal accidents. There should be an avenue where all vehicles that exceed the speed limit can be fished out. The manner at which many vehicles speed on the road is alarming. The need to respect zebra crossing and allow pedestrians pass through that side of the road should be emphasised. Many drivers do not understand why the sign is important from the way they run even when they get to the signs even though there are people waiting to cross. Drivers still make phone calls while driving because there are no enforced rules to that effect.
There should be a heavy fine for anyone caught making or receiving calls on the wheels right on the spot. Every public vehicle that is not road worthy should be taken off the road with immediate effect. Lastly, the use of seat belts cannot be over-emphasised. There should be heavy sanc- tions for people who refuse to use it while driving. Chil- dren below the age of 12 are not supposed to be seated on the passenger’s seat beside the driver. Anyone who goes against this rule should also be arrested without delay. The Nigerian transport system really needs a total reshuffle in this regard.
•Ishola is on the staff of Nigerian Tribune
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