NAN-H-24
Drivers
By Kazeem Akande
Lagos, Nov.15, 2017 (NAN) Unions in the transport sector in Lagos say they would henceforth punish any of their members found driving under the influence of alcohol or other dangerous substances.
The state chairmen of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
The chairmen said that stiff measures to tackle the ill were being put in place, especially as the year was running to an end.
Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, Lagos State Chairman, NURTW, told NAN that the union had embarked on rigorous sensitisation of its members on safe driving during the busy festive periods.
He said that the union would punish any of its members that tested positive to the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) breathalyzer on the highways.
Agbede said that members of the union had also been admonished to obey traffic rules and regulations at all times while driving.
“We are determined to reduce accidents during the ember months, especially during the December festivities, and have told our members repeatedly to drive safely on the roads.
“The union has organised various enlightenment, training and awareness programmes for the members, to keep them informed on the road signs,’’ he said.
He advised passengers to board vehicles at motor parks whenever they are travelling, and to fill the manifest form before leaving, in case of emergency thereafter.
Alhaji Musa Muhammed, Chairman, RTEAN, also said that measures were in place to reduce motor accidents during the festivities among the union members.
Muhammed said that the union had established a taskforce to punish any erring member that violates traffic rules and regulations.
“We are doing this to curb all unnecessary accidents during the ember months, and especially during Yuletide.
“The union has established a taskforce to arrest and punish any erring member who drives against traffic or violates rules and regulations,’’ he said.
According to him, members have also been warned not to drink alcohol or drive under the influence of any substance.
Muhammed said that members were being educated regularly on the dangers of speeding, overloading, dangerous driving and use of bad tyres.
NAN reports that Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), had on Friday advised motorists to drive safely, and not to blame accidents on blood-sucking demons attached to ember months.
Oyeyemi said that 238 drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol between January and September 2017.
The FRSC boss said that the corps was also working assiduously to ensure that there was change of attitude among motorists before, during and after the Yuletide. (NAN)
AKA/FF/SOA
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Edited by Fela Fashoro/Oluwole Sogunle