Determined to reduce the level of road accidents in the country, The Federal Road Safety Commission said it would recertify about 2,000 drivers of Peace Mass Transit Limited currently undergoing training in Enugu.

Southern City News gathered that the retraining and recertification programme was informed by recent road accidents reportedly involving the transport company.

The training exercise taking place at the FRSC Training Academy at Udi, Enugu State, involves visual and blood pressure tests for the drivers.

The programme will also involve lectures on defensive driving.

The exercise is to culminate in a five-range driving assessment test at the training academy’s drive range, after which the drivers will be scored individually.

Head of the FRSC Training Academy, Assistant Corps Commandant Kenneth Nwegbe, explained at the commencement of the exercise that the training was meant to ensure that the participants went back to the road as better drivers.

“The importance of certification and recertification of drivers cannot be overemphasised,” Nwegbe said, adding that the FRSC Training Academy instructs drivers according to global best standards.

He cautioned the drivers against the effects of drugs and alcohol while driving.

Nwegbe noted that drivers should see themselves as the ambassadors of the mass transport companies they work for.

Chairman, Peace Mass Transit Limited, Mr. Sam Onyishi, who disclosed that the exercise would last for one month, stressed the importance of safety in mass transit business.

Onyishi said, “Safety is essential in transportation; if you toy with safety, your business is as good as dead because you lose your passengers, you lose your drivers and you lose your vehicles.

“Each time there is an accident, a part of me dies; it gives me sleepless nights,” he added.

The Peace Mass Transit proprietor urged his drivers to take full advantage of the training, saying, “By the time you finish this training and FRSC gives you the certificate to continue driving, you still need good attitude.

“Prove to Nigerians that what they are saying about you is a lie,” he said, referring to the widely held belief that the company’s drivers are reckless.

But Onyishi added that reports of accidents involving Peace Mass Transit Limited were exaggerated.

According to him, there is a campaign against the company in the social media, maintaining that the company was considering dragging those behind the alleged campaign to court.

 

Source: Punchng.com

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