LAGOS – The Professional Driving and Safety Academy, PDSA, the Organisers of the Best Driver in Nigeria Competition and Free Road Safety Training, has entered into an agreement with the Lagos State Drivers Institute, LASDRI, for the promotion and registration of Participants for the year 2024 Best Driver in Nigeria Competition and Free Road Safety Training. By this Partnership, LASDRI is to coordinate the competition in Lagos State.
Mr. Jide Owatunmise, , the Project Coordinator, revealed to DAILY INDEPENDENT that LASDRI is a Lagos State Government Agency charged with the responsibility of Re – training and Recertification of all categories of Drivers and Riders in the state, having outstanding records of success in Drivers’ and Riders’ Training, capacity building and competence development that spans several years, qualifying it to effectively coordinate the participation of Drivers and Riders, including other activities relating to the competition.
Adding, Alhaja Afusat Tiamiyu, the General Manager of LASDRI, is interested in partnering with PDSA to ensure the success of the Best Driver Competition because “it will significantly enhance Drivers and Riders education for safer road use thereby contributing to the reduction of Road Traffic Crashes, injuries and Deaths in Lagos State and Nigeria as whole, the Competition will also complement the role of LASDRI in promoting Road Safety Education for all Road Users in the State.”
Speaking more about the competition, Comrade Owatunmise said the Best Driver competition is; “using the Carrot or Reward strategies to take Road Safety Education to all categories of Road users with the goal of preventing road accidents and crashes on Nigeria roads, hence the planned presentation of Prizes, Gifts and Awards to all Participants at various stages of the competition.
Registration for the competition according to Mr. Owatunmise runs from July 1 to October 28 this year with physical and online screening that commenced from September 1, stressing that the competition is opened to all categories of Drivers, handling both private and commercial vehicles, Company Drivers, Drivers of Self-own vehicles, Riders of Tricycles, Motorcycle Riders and others, including men and women who know how to drive or ride.
“The competition is not a lottery, no raffle draw, no car racing and there is no loser. The Grand Finale of the competition is coming up on November 21, 2024, when all the Prizes, Awards and Cash presentations will be made,” he said.
Interested Participants in Lagos State and its environs are to register in any of the LASDRI Offices spread across the Local Government Areas of the State, he stressed.
Owatunmise also said, “Driving is one of the most complex tasks, revealing that many road crashes are caused by human factors, especially vehicle Drivers, which is confirmed by global and national research reports.
The Organiser noted the high rate of RTCs, could be prevented by adequate knowledge and compliance to the road rules, stressing that over 70 per cent of Drivers know little or nothing about safety measures.
According to him, “research showed most Agencies, Organisations, commercial Drivers and private Drivers do not comply with the laws which specified compulsory regular training, complaining of lack of time and or money to undergo this, while some are not even aware of the laws.
“In view of the high RTCs, injuries and deaths, there’s a need to bridge the gaps towards ensuring safety on Nigeria roads.” He added.
He stressed further that the injuries and deaths that occurred on the roads have spiral effects on families, communities, businesses, Governments and the GDP but virtually all the Crashes on the roads are preventable.
He averred, if the human factors associated with Drivers are effectively addressed, the rate of Road Traffic Crashes RTCs would be reduced. This is why this competition is designed to increase Road Safety Education through Free Training and motivation for participation for the benefit of all sectors in Nigeria.
Alhaja Afusat Tiamiyu, in a statement during the flag off of the first International Drivers Day ceremony organised by the Professional Driving and Safety Academy, PDSA, in Ikorodu in November 2023, said, “drivers are very important individuals, highly important to moving the economy of every nation forward and ought to be treated as kings, but, majority of them do not place proper value on themselves for them to be treated appropriately.
The LASDRI boss reiterated further that her organisation refers to them as professionals who are contributing to the growth of the economy, I’ll advise every organisation to treat them as members of the professional team, according to them all the honour and privileges others are enjoying within the system.
Owatunmise who gave reasons for creating and celebrating the International Drivers Day, asserts that it is “to Recognize, Educate, Motivate, Challenge and Encourage all categories of Drivers to always embrace,’ Safe Driving for Life’ skills and attitudes, to also give cognizance to the roles of Drivers in the reduction of Road Traffic Crashes, Injuries and Deaths as contained in Section 3.6 of the Sustainable Development Goals (2022-2030) in Nigeria.”
He affirmed that the error, actions or inactions of a Driver can result in the damage of the Vehicle or other valuable properties including loss of lives in organisations, stressing that such a vital group of employees should not be seen as irrelevant or disposable Tools.
Read the full article here
