THE DRIVER AND THE ROAD
Once I talked to a young lady and asked her why she preferred travelling in the company of private transport. She answered by saying that, it was due to the fact that private transport companies are well tutored on the modus-operandi of the use of cars, the road itself and the drivers themselves. Now, from what this young lady said, I will possibly draw out my point on the above topic.
It will do us good to start with the arrogant and aggressive way of life of the drivers. Most commercial drivers are reckless with their driving and in such a way make the people refer to them with bad names; and thereby affecting their psychological being; even at times it serves as a sort of disturbance to them.
While it is also very necessary to note, that our Nigerian drivers tend to pose a way-ward nature to their own health. This is more explainable in the sense that, a whole lot of drivers who are majored, based and bound to ply the roads by night, do not in any way take good care of themselves health-wise.
A commercial or private driver who will be travelling at night ought to know that he is bound to sleep real well in the day and also have so much rest with good meals. But this may not be the same for all the drivers. Some are stingy to their own mouth. Some are too economic with money. Remember only those ones alive can spend money got from labour. Though, instead of some too to eat good meals and have a wonderful rest, they mostly look for solace, rest, peace and majorly derive happiness from what is popularly called “PARAGA JOINT”. The truth is that nobody condemns the use of African medicine treatment; but in a situation where boundless number of alcoholic shots are fired down the throat, then we should know that it will have a tell on our health. Note carefully well both drivers and passengers that, the resting place before taking off for a night journey should not be the alcoholic joint.
Also, it is disheartening to realise that most drivers do not visit government or private hospitals regularly to know their state of health. And this ought not to be. Drivers ought to visit hospitals regularly, so as to determine their blood pressure and a whole lot of things.
I was once at a park, and i heard a driver saying he had been feeling not too strong for some days, but yet, he still wanted to travel that same night. These are minor things that drivers over look that can cause sleep driving and result in road accident. Drivers are meant to go for check-up often.
Furthermore, it is relevant to acknowledge the fact that, drivers ought to be the ones to mostly go for eye-check-up. They ought to be the ones to actually worry always about the condition of their sight. A driver for instance, who can only see nearer objects is bound to have a clash if care is not taken on highway.
So, so very painful, sad and pitiful to understand the fact that, most drivers who are aware of the conditions of the bad roads still go ahead to mount care-free speed on the roads; take Ife-Ibadan highway for example; coming from Ibadan to Ife is a bad road with so many death pits; yet most accidents on this road has been as a result of the over speeding. Also, most of our drivers, who do not have a very good idea of how bad a road is, still go ahead to mount high speed on these roads.
It is also important to understand that most Nigerian drivers do not have the regular driving training of the driving school. And as a result, we have drivers who became drivers by the virtue of a “one-day driving lesson”.
It is on this note that I propose to the FEDERAL ROAD SAFETY CORPS (FRSC) that, before any on is issued a driving licence, there should be a certificate of driving school which is registered with the government. This will probably help reduce the haunted accidents caused by our drivers on the roads.
And now to the truck drivers! I once saw a truck with a board hung on its back with the inscription of 56km/hr. Yet I was in a car speeding over 100 km/hr; yet this truck was still far speeding ahead of us. Does this not imply something?
Most of our truck drivers are people with little or no care. They are mostly alcohol and violent disciples. It is not necessary for a truck driver to drive truck under the alcoholic influence which will always trigger arrogance of driving a heavy object and also float aggressiveness along with it.
I propose that due to the nature of these trucks, they should ply the roads at night. In the day time for example, they cause traffic jams and block the roads. But at night, they would have all weather conditions in their own favour.
Also, it is very good and sound, if the truck drivers can endeavour to always have two persons to accompany them on a travel. And out of these two or more persons, one should at least be a mechanic.
And lastly to petrol or diesel or gas tanker drivers; it is important for these varieties of drivers to appreciate the fact that they are majorly responsible for most accidents on our roads. Some go as far as speeding with heavily loaded tankers which is very wrong. Some even go ahead to use those tankers for their own personal business “runs” and in such a way to meet up with the original owners’ demand, they rush, drive roughly and over-speed and then end up in accident. Every tanker filled with petrol or diesel or gas should be careful on roads.
Also it is a proposal to our government that, petrol or diesel or gas tankers, should always travel by night too. Our people, lives, property and roads are not safe with the heat caused and burnt by these tankers and their drivers. Let it be known to the populace and the drivers of companies’ trucks or tankers that, there is no immunity or any diplomatic coverage or otherwise against road accidents.
FELLOW DRIVERS, REMEMBER THAT OUR ROADS ARE NOT YET EXPRESS WAYS, DO NOT OVER-SPEED ON THEM!
BY: ENOCH OJOTISA.
FACULTY OF LAW
OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY
poetojotisa.blogspot.com +2347031816797
MYSTICISM AND THE DRIVER
Do not be alarmed by the word mysticism. It is only an expression of special belief about God and prayer. I am not in any way writing this piece so as to question the existence of God; neither has it been lettered to doubt that God answers men through prayers. But it is of cause important for us to note that there are certain things which ought to be done out of reason and not all on spiritual mediation.
Though it varies in what each person terms and pictures as God; but for all drivers who at least believe that there is a supreme being called God and who are subjected to his will, then it is beckoning on you all to understand this piece, and be able to differentiate what is what, from which is which. While it is important for each and every driver to always commune his ways and travels to the hand of the Supreme Being called God; it is also necessary for drivers to know that they are bound to do some things.
Firstly, in as much, that in a situation where a driver prays to God to help him evade, escape and omit all accidents on the way, and such driver out of his own folly and outmost negligence omits or let say forgets to check the condition of such a vehicle to be used; and as such that the vehicle develops a mechanical fault on the way and results in a minor or major accident: then, are we to say that God refused answering the driver’s prayers?
A driver should be careful and patient. A driver should not because he had committed his ways to God or one god in the morning; then he should now proceed to do anything contrary to common sense of driving. If we all carry out the ideals of care, patience and goodwill, then we shall have the genesis of achievement of reducing death tolls and accidents off our roads.
It is also expected of drivers to be multi-fast in thinking. This is in respect of the fact that a driver should be able to have a future expectance of all things. E.g. people could suddenly run across the road. A good driver ought to be able to predict and guess what those on the roads could do and so will help guide such a driver in his actions.
Most drivers have accidents even after praying to God due to the following reasons:
• They have so much over-confidence and they believe they are the General Lord of the vehicle on the road and that they can operate it all. But such drivers have swiftly forgot to accustom themselves to the fact that the tyres, engine and other things are not operated by the drivers; but that they only control the steering wheel and the brakes.
• Also, most drivers drive so fast in other to impress themselves, their colleagues and even passengers at times. Once, I heard a driver in the garage been called “USEIN BOLT”. It means he drives on high speed so much more than other drivers in that garage and surely while on road too. Such a driver is endangering his life and other passengers.
• Even though a driver might have prayed to God or use another spiritual means to keep himself; yet, some drivers lose concentration while driving. Some eat or talk or even think about his family and or personal problems while driving. Some lose concentration due to tiredness. Many drive long distances without even resting their body and help their body blood circulation.
• Note that driving after a heavy meal is also hazardous as the blood concentrates in the stomach to absorb the food. This deprives the brain of oxygen and can result in the sleeping of the driver.
• Most drivers pack indiscriminately on roads. Even the maintenance of their vehicles also determines if actually God wants to answer their prayers. A driver who over-takes at a bend is responsible for accidents.
• Also drivers should be encouraged to use seat belts. No matter how you drive, there is always a chance of being involved in accidents. The best protection in a vehicle is the use of seat belts. Drivers should use the mirrors and stay in accordance to the rules of driving.
Once again, it is proposed to federal road safety corps (FRSC), to make driving school a necessity before one can be issued a driving licence. And as such, such a driving school must be government registered.
GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS. BUT MEN MUST WORK TOWARDS THE ANSWERING OF THOSE PRAYERS.
BY: ENOCH OJOTISA.
FACULTY OF LAW
OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY
poetojotisa.blogspot.com +2347031816797
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