Yuletide: RTEAN boss advises drivers, road users on safety
In an effort to ensure safety during the festive period in the FCT and across the country, the President, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Shehu Musa Isiwele, has advised drivers and passengers under his watch to be cautious
while plying the road throughout the festive period, just as he also called on the Federal Government to quickly find a lasting solution which will address the issue of fuel scarcity in the country.
He said that drivers should avoid bad habits of drunk driving, smoking of Indian hemp as well as other heard drugs before embarking on journey during the yuletide.
Shehu Isiwele let out the advice to journalists in the FCT in readiness to this year’s end of the year celebration.
He warned that the essence of traveling to various destinations during the festivals is not only to celebrate but more importantly to stay alive and meet loved ones.
Isiwele opined that for one to be able to achieve the above, there are several precautions needed to be taken by a driver in whose hands lives of passengers are placed at the journey time.
Some of the things to be avoided, according to Isiwele, includes drunk driving, which is induced by taking alcohol before handling the steering.
To avoid such, he said one should avoid being engaged in drinking before driving, smoking cigarette, answering or making telephone calls while on steering, conversation with passengers while on steering, smoking Indian hemp before and after handling the steering should be jettisoned.
He spoke at length on the need for a driver to among others ensure his vehicle tyres are in good condition before mounting the steering.
The RTEAN president therefore noted that his organisation has since engaged in sensitising drivers through workshops on the above mentioned.
To ensure that their drivers and workers do perform their duties as expected, he informed that in RTEAN, they make the welfare of their workers a priority.
He informed that trade unions in the transport sector also met with stakeholders like Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Directorate of Road Transport Services (VIO), among others before and during this yuletide, just as he reiterated on the need for all hands to be on deck to enhance hitch free movement on the road during and after this festive period.
By Idu Jude
