The Nation Newspaper

Category: Motoring

  • Skoda returns with twosome

    Skoda returns with twosome

    Skoda Automobile has  churned out two new models – Octavia and Rapid.  The auto maker unveiled the cars at Stallion Motors, Lagos last week. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO was there.

    The new generation Octavia is in a class of its own – practical, conservative and demanding. While the Octavia is re-emerging as a third generation A7 family sedan, with a new design DNA, the Rapid is making a debut as Skoda’s first model incorporating new design language with an embodiment of crisp lines.

    The Rapid is the first product that materialises from new strategy. Tagged Baby Octavia, it is a timeless elegance, pure in shape and natural. Its electronically radio could be taken out and placed elsewhere.

    This means that the signature feature common to Skoda cars, such as the grille, has been fundamentally transformed to make the grille, for instance, an integral part of the model nose; so it is not lifted along with the bonnet.

    For the Octavia, it’s into new generation – a third one. The first generation was between 1996 and 2004, while the second ended this year.

    Though there have not been much noise about the earlier two generations, emphases are laid on this third generation A7 Skoda because the new Octavia is the main pillar in the ŠKODA portfolio and a logical part of the automaker’s Growth Strategy 2018.

    Skoda World Head, Sales and Marketing Sanjay Rupani, said the new generation Octavia stands out for its unique combination of most recent technologies and new design DNA with Skoda Auto’s harmonious lines of five-door body for those in search of dignified elegance.

    He said there is also an emphasis on delivering the prefect experience in terms of quality, aesthetics and ergonomics

    This, he said, would significantly strengthen the brand’s position in the A-segment in some parts of the world, including Nigeria.

    A highly acclaimed brand in Western Europe, Skoda has also being a success in Eastern Europe and Asia and making frantic inroads against established competition in other markets.

    According to Rupani, the Octavia is targeted at customers, who expect a spacious interior, timeless design and value for money.

    “It is only logical that most owners of previous generation Octavia (A5) will soon start to think of buying a new car,” he said.

    He is, however, convinced the new generation Skoda would inspire a positive change in the way the brand is perceived.

    “The challenge is to express the rising power of a brand steeped in traditions dating back more than 117 years while remaining young and dynamic, but I’m optimistic the new look Octavia wouldn’t have any trouble retaining its tile as Skoda’s best-selling model,” he said.

    Mounted on Volkswagen’s MQB platform similar to VW Golf and Audi A3, the new Octavia is to, henceforth, have independent suspension at all four corners (Macpherson struts at the front and a multi-link setup at the rear.)

    Skoda offers the New Octavia in eight engines, only the 1.8 TSI model generating 132kw /180 bhp turbo petrol engine will, at the moment, be available in the local market.

    Rupani noted that weight has been reduced due to the adoption of higher tensile strength metals in the car’s construction with some models shedding as much as 102kg of weight.

    Riding on a 108mm longer wheelbase, the Octavia’s growth spurt was necessary to accommodate the Rapid sedan and the benefits of this growth include a massive 590-litre boot space.

    By also pushing the front wheels forward, Skoda has managed to improve interior space significantly, claiming class-leading rear seat headroom of 980mm with ample knee and leg room for rear seat passengers as well as scads of headroom.

    “It is no exaggeration that the new Octavia is, indeed, a roomy car,” he added.

    The new Octavia has received a five-star NCAP safety rating with options of up to nine airbags – up from six, implying a stronger passenger cell plus collision avoidance and automatic braking systems.

    Aside, the driving safety systems, such as anti-lock braking and electronic stability control are included with radar based cruise control, whose sensor can automatically brake the car as part of a pre-crash braking system.

    There is also a new automatic headlight system that switches the high beams on and off when needed plus lane departure warning and correction systems that will steer the car back into its lane.

    Suffice to say the new Octavia has benefited from Volkswagen’s technical and manufacturing know-how with an ergonomic cabin and a tangible sense of quality.

    On the new Octavia after the test drive, Rupani said: “The new Octavia is an effortless car to drive, cruising quietly, yet more than happy to be propelled through consecutive corners at grin-inducing velocities.”

    He added: “Being lighter pays off in terms of cornering ability and braking too and this makes the car sharper and more nimble than its predecessor (despite being longer and wider.)

    “This new recipe would surely help Skoda to up the ante by half a million annually from four million Octavia cars sold since 1996.”

  • Audi stirs hornet’s nest with Q3

    Audi stirs hornet’s nest with Q3

    Audi, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, has unveiled the new Q3 premium crossover at its Victoria Island office in Lagos.

    The new Q3 premium, Audi’s first entry into the ever-growing crossover market is designed to compete with BMW X1 and Range Rover Evoque and others in that group.

    Styled in line with Audi brand slogan Vorsprung Durch Technik, meaning ‘Innovation through Technology’ the new Q3 is sporty and progressive Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) for active, modern and urban lifestyles with predisposition for elegance, comfort and individualisation.

    This explains why the car combines traditional SUV strengths with the versatility of real time utility vehicle yet undeniably suitable and efficient for everyday use.

    Built on the same A5 (PQ35) platform as the Volkswagen Tiguan, the Q3 is aside being a multifunctional SUV, specifically designed to serve the requirements of three different target groups; the younger singles, younger couples or best agers.

    Audi Centre Head of Sales and Marketing, Mr Anurag Shah, at the media presentation of the car in Lagos last Saturday said the new Q3 receives the same wedge-shaped headlights, single frame radiator grille with vertical element and large air inlets from either direction one view the car.

    Shah said Q3 is the outcome of Audi’s pledge in 2007 at the Shanghai Motor Show to design an intriguing crossover that looks much like a scaled-down version of the Q5 and larger Q7.

    “Suffice to say of the two competitors that undercut the baby Range Rover, the Audi Q3 is arguably the most stylish, handily compact and finely finished,” he also said.

    Shah said the Q3 is available in four choice engines: two TFSI units and two TDI engines but only the TFSI petrol engine variables will be offered in Nigeria.

    The base 2.0-litre TSFI engine mated to either a standard six-speed manual transmission or top-level 2.0 TSFI seven-speed dual-clutch automatic S-tronic transmission with stop-start mechanism (to cut the engine when the car is idling) delivers a total of 211 horsepower and 221 pound feet of torque and the manual transmission delivers a total of 170 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque between 1,700 and 4,200 rpm.

    While the manual transmission is capable of sprinting the Q3 from 0 to 62 mph in 8.2 seconds and up to a top speed of 131 mph or 260kmph and yet deliver an average fuel consumption 32.22 mpg, the top-level two TSFI delivers between 1,800 and 4,900 rpm in combination with standard seven-speed ‘S’ tronic, that accelerates the four-cylinder unit Audi Q3 from 0 to 62 mph in 6.9 seconds and up to a top speed of 142 mph. The fuel consumption of this version is just 7.7 liters per 100 km (30.55 mpg).

    These engine variants are no doubt an excellent mix of performance and economy and are both fitted with Audi Quattro four-wheel drive to ensure light work on rough terrain.

    According to Shah, the Q3 lives up to Audi’s reputation for build quality and reliability, adding that all materials used inside are top notch and could withstand the rigours of family life, and the engine range are tried and tested so much so that they are unlikely to let you down.

    “Audi Q3 is ranked among intriguing crossovers that have secured full five-star crash safety rating in the Euro NCAP test – this is not unconnected with option list that includes extra safety equipment.

    “Equipped with six airbags (including curtain airbags that extend into the rear) as well as electronic stability control and ISOFIX child seat anchor points as standard, Audi claims the entire Q3 has the crossover class’ lowest running costs, however a try could convince you,” he explained.

    The Q3 is offered with a 1,571 mm (61.85 in) front suspension, offered in a McPherson strut construction with lower wishbones of forged aluminium with four-link rear axle measuring 1,575 mm (62.01 in) and large bearings for a comfortable ride.

    A high-performance brake system with vented front discs measuring 312 mm (12.28 in) in diameter and solid rear discs in a diameter of 282 mm (11.10 in) with 17-inch alloy wheel is standard in the TFSI engine models.

    Audi’s drive Select and adaptive dampers can be added as extras to give four driving modes – auto, Comfort, dynamic and efficiency.

    This is in addition to suspensions settings that can improve matters, with the comfort setting that makes the ride very smooth indeed. All models however have a high driving position that affords an excellent view of the road ahead.

    The Q3 may be smaller than the Q5, but it is roomy with space for five adults and ample rear leg and headroom that certainly compares with the A4 saloon or rivals.

    “In fact, the Audi Q3 is a perfect SUV for today’s crowded cities. It delivers the right amount of power and comes with pretty reasonable running cost,” Shah added.

    The Q3 460-litre boot space that expands to 1,365-litre when the split rear seats are folded down, which is more than most competitors could make this crossover a crucial car for exciting activities.

  • ‘Road accidents cause 1.24 million deaths yearly’

    No fewer than 1.24 million road accidents occur yearly, the United Nations Global Road Safety report has shown.

    Out of this figure, 92 per cent is from developing countries, including Nigeria.

    But how to reduce the figure was the focus of a two-day capacity building workshop organised by Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) in collaboration with Arrive Alive Road Safety Initiative (AARSI in Abeoukuta, Ogun State.

    The workshop tagged ‘Traffic managements brought together over 60 Corp members who were trained on conflict management, risk management, management safety and engineering measure, principles of equality, diversity and general standard of conduct of traffic police by a United Kingdom based Potab Consulting and Research Ltd.

    Speaking at the event, Ogun State Head of Service, Mrs. Modupe Adekunle said new lease of life for socio-economic development is not without its attendant challenges adding that the state is now open to business and must be prepare for the influx of people and vehicular traffic.

    This, she said, requires effective and efficient management and adequate machinery for the safety of lives and properties on the road.

    Mrs Adekunle cited a UN Global Status report on road safety from 182 countries, which indicates that the total number of road traffic death worldwide remains unacceptably high at 1.24million yearly.

    Adekunle added that only 28 per cent countries covering 7 per cent of the world’s population have comprehensive road safety laws on five key risks factors – drinking, speeding, failing to use helmets, seat belts and child restraints.

    She said traffic officers must positioned themselves to be equipped with the required knowledge and put the state on the positive side of the fact.

    Corps Commandant and Chief Executive Officer of TRACE, Ayo Sangofadeji, who indentified various challenges facing traffic control officers in the country called for in-depth analyses on managing road traffic in a developing economy like Nigeria.

    Sangofadeji said: “The institutions have created conflict and crises and the traffic managers are called to curb it and must do it to the best of their knowledge.

    “There are certain obvious institutional failure beginning from drivers’ licence, funding agencies with the right equipment, yet the authority want the best from the agencies.”

    He lamented that Nigeria society has got a culture of impunity.

    The Executive Secretary, Arrive Alive Road Safety Initiative, Mr Ike Okonkwo, said the workshop was carried out to strengthen the efforts of traffic officers in the state to reduce crashes.

    We commended the various efforts made by TRACE in reducing road crashes in the state, saying: “Lagos, Kwara and Ogun states have become a model on efficient service delivery in traffic management in Nigeria which can be better when best practices across the world are upheld.”

  • Britain commends Lagos rail project

    Britain commends Lagos rail project

    Lagos State Government has been commended for its commitment to the implementation of the Blue Line (Okokomaiko-Marina) lite rail project.

    The British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria Mr Peter Carter, who gave the commendation during a visit to the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), and a tour of the rail project under construction, promised to bring to the attention of British investors, opportunities in Lagos, especially in the sector.

    He said: “One of the things I have learnt from this visit is that there are lots of opportunities that British companies could get involved in here. This is the message I will take away with the aim of encouraging British companies and investors to look seriously at this project and the opportunities that abound more widely in the city of Lagos.”

    He expressed delight at the pace of work on the project, describing it as impressive.

    Carter hailed “the engineering behind it (rail project), the strategic plan which underpins it as well as the expectation that it is going to help Lagosians move around the city more easily and perhaps reduce the pressure on the road”.

    The Deputy High Commissioner promised that the British Government would continue to support developmental projects which would positively impact citizens of developing countries to make them more productive for the benefit of their economy.

    He said the British Government had been making contributions behind the scene to the rail project.

    “In terms of British involvement, we are already involved through the Department for International Development (DfID). We make significant contributions behind the scene through the financing of the provision of technical expertise,” he stated.

    LAMATA Director of Public Transport Gbenga Dairo, who conducted Carter round the project said the rail project which would be constructed in phases, was designed to reduce congestion along the Lagos-Badagry corridor, improve public transport provision and use and stimulate development on that axis.

    Dairo said the state government was considering extending the construction from the National Theatre to Marina to bring total length constructed during the current phase to about 11 kilometres.

    The Blue Line rail project 27 kilometres.

    It is one of the seven projects planned for the city and is one of those constitute the spine of its network. It is being implemented on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model with the public sector leading in the provision of infrastructure while the private sector, under a concession agreement, will be responsible for operations and maintenance.

    On completion, the blue line is expected to move over 400,000 passengers daily.

  • BMW introduces special motorbike

    BMW introduces special motorbike

    Auto giant BMW has unveiled a special motorcycle tagged Surfboard.

    The style-rich folks at BikeExif found it 1979 BMW motorcycle at a bike show in Biarritz. It was created by Xabi Ithurralde and took 10 months to build. A great consideration was taken to the added weight of the surfboard, reducing the weight of the headlight and seat, as well as choosing the 200kg (440 lb.) with R65 engine versus a larger bike.

    In addition to the stunning surfboard, a great deal of attention has been paid to the seat. Remy Carrait, a world-class tannery that supplies Louis Vuitton and Hermes, has supplied the leather.

    BMW has a very tight connection to the car world. First, BMW is a carmaker above all else. Second, many BMW bikes feature a drive shaft as opposed to being chain driven. You can now add “surf buggy” to the list of overlaps, with this BMW R65 and surfboard combination.

  • Preventing road accidents

    However, i challenge the stakeholders and other well-meaning Nigerians to do more unbiased research and investigation on this very issue to properly understand the need for this suggestion which I strongly believe will go a long way in drastically reducing road accidents and fatalities as well as enhance the standards of driving schools that will be properly positioned to comply with the set standards.

    •The mindset (perception) of drivers on the use of roads should be properly addressed and adequately restructured to promote safety on the roads.

    •The focus of drivers training should be further diversified from driving skills to include the perceptual, cognitive, motivational and attitudinal factors which can greatly exert on drivers behaviour, influence their judgment and decision-making. There is also the need to develop a road etiquette as well.

    •The focus on the use of high fines to prevent reckless driving may not be very effective because majority of traffic offenders believe that they are not likely to be caught.

    • However, drivers should be made to take more responsibility for what is occurring on the roads. This will be more effective than slamming ridiculously high fines on traffic offenders.

    •All Categories of Drivers and Vehicle Owners must be made to undergo regular refresher courses because peer influence in driving cannot be over looked. There is always the tendency for those obeying traffic rules to renege and imitate the errant Drivers.

    •Public and private sector organisations must be encouraged or compelled to regularly train their drivers because of the level of irreparable lives and properties being lost through driver errors and allied factors.

    •Insurance companies should have incentives such as discount on premiums for individuals and organisations that sponsored their Drivers for re-training programmes. This will encourage driver training and development for accident prevention. This has been very effective in countries like United States.

    •As governments and non-governmental organisations have been focusing on the campaign against HIV/AIDS, they should focus even more attention on the campaign against Road Accidents which is killing more people than HIV/AID and at a faster rate.

    •There should be no sacred cows or VIPs in the enforcement of road traffic laws and regulations.

  • Volkswagen unveils VW CC, others

    Volkswagen unveils VW CC, others

    The Volkswagen Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos has unveiled three new cars – VW CC, Jetta and Polo in a renewed bid to raise the profile of the Volkswagen brand in Nigeria, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

    The Volkswagen CC has been largely unchanged since its emergence as a 2009 model. But for this year, it has adopted new style that brings it in line with its more modern upscale siblings.

    Still a replica of the original concept of ‘four-door coupe,’ the Volkswagen CC combines the dramatic styling of a coupe with the practicality of a sedan.

    Like the Mercedes Benz CLS that sparked the emerging segment, the CC sits five, providing easier access to the rear seats than a normal coupe.

    For the latest model year, Volkswagen updated the CC with more standard equipment as well as revised exterior styling.

    Although the CC shares basic features with outgoing version of the Passat sedan, the latest version has been enlarged, de-contented with dreadful luxury to appeal to young and upwardly mobile executives.

    The car was unveiled to reporters in Lagos.

    The CC’s connection to the old Passat is most visible in its sophisticated cabin, soft-touch materials, fit and finish excellence and overall intuitive design with flowing and polished exterior.

    Volkswagen Centre Lagos head of sales and marketing Manish Daryanani, boasted that the CC’s exterior will win over most buyers, adding that the overall look is one of simple elegance, with details like a relatively low, sloping roofline and sleek lights contributing to the attractive, expensive-seeming mien.

    He added that styling changes for the latest model year include a simpler, more conservative grille and headlamp design that brings the look more in line with Volkswagen’s mainstream Passat and Jetta offerings.

    “The front and rear fascias were also worked over, while Bi-Xenon headlights with VW’s Adaptive Front Lighting System and LED tail lamps are now standard equipment,” he said.

    However, the standard engine for the CC is smooth and torquey 1.8 litre Turbo FSI four cylinder engine that delivers 160bhp at 5100 rpm and 207 pound-feet of torque starting from 1800 rpm.

    Also available with standard six-speed manual or an optional dual-clutch automatic that VW dubs the DSG is the motor that helps the CC hit 120kmph from a stop in a touch over seven seconds.

    Experts rate fuel economy in the new CC at 21/32 mpg while the manual and automatic-equipped cars carry a 22/31 mpg rating.

    Experts rate fuel economy in the new CC at 21/32 mpg while the manual and automatic-equipped cars carry a 22/31 mpg rating.

    The CC can also be found in other trim levels: 2.0T Sport, 2.0T Sport Plus, 2.0T R-Line, Lux, Lux VR6 and VR6 4Motion Executive.

    The entry-level Sport trim comes well equipped with leatherette convincing (faux leather) upholstery, heated and power-adjustable front seats, a touchscreen-activated eight-speaker sound system with an iPod input jack.

    Other features are cruise control, power-adjustable driver’s seat, metallic-look matte chrome interior trim, 17-inch “Verme” alloy wheels, Bluetooth connectivity, a leather-wrapped shift knob and steering wheel and automatic lights and windshield wipers. This trim comes equipped with the 2.0-liter turbo four along with a choice of transmissions – all other trims (except the 2.0T R-Line) come with the automatic gearbox only.

    The CC 1.8-litre Turbo FSI four cylinder engines adds 18-inch “Mallory” wheels with all-season 235/40 tyres and a navigation system.

    The top-end CC is the VR6 4Motion Executive, which adds the V6 engine and all-wheel drive, a Park Distance Control system with front and rear proximity sensors, a 600-watt Dynaudio premium audio system and leather seating.

    All CC models come equipped with a bevy of safety features including dual front, side and side curtain airbags in addition to traction and stability control systems.

  • ‘We have transformed transportation in Katsina’

    ‘We have transformed transportation in Katsina’

    Alhaji Gambo Abdulkadir Rimi is the Chief Operating Officer of the Katsina State Transport Authority. In this interview, he explains the challenges and achievements of the authority.

    How has it been managing the Katsina State Transport Authority?

    When we took over the management of the authority in 2009, there were fewer than 25 operational vehicles which were even vehicles inherited from Kaduna State in 1987 when the state was created. Most of the vehicles were in terrible state when we took over. We could not even pay salaries shortly after we came in. We could only manage to pay junior staff and much later pay senior staff. The first few things we did with the support of our governor, was to get brand new vehicles, 20 of them. Also, the governor was giving the authority minimum of N100million capital every year in order to increase the quality of service we were rendering the public. And so as soon as we stabilised, we started buying one vehicle every month from revenue generated, till now we have not deviated from buying. We are having more than 124 vehicles in our fleet. It has become a policy in the company that a vehicle must be bought every month. Now there is virtually no part of the north, including Abuja that does not benefit from our services. We go on international routes, which is Maradi in Chad. Before now, we do not operate to more than Abuja, Sokoto, Kaduna and Kano. What we first did as soon as the board was inaugurated by the governor was to say that all the 19 northern states must have a feel of Katsina transport which we have successfully done. We have also introduced town service bus. Until now, the only means of transportation within the city was Achada which you called Okada. You can imagine an old man or woman, pregnant women on bike. We decided to introduce those buses because, beyond the services we are now rendering, the action has also eliminated that aspect of accident which we all know is most associated with Okada. Now these buses cover the main towns in the state. All you need do now is walk to your bus stop and you are sure of going with any one that comes around. We started with about five vehicles, now we have about 40 designated for this purpose. We have also opened sub stations in seven local government areas in the state. Before now, all the commuters, irrespective of where they are, must come to Katsina town, the state capital, before they can board any of the vehicles. So, from the sub stations, you can now board vehicles going outside the state. You do not need to come to Katsina before you can get to Kaduna, Sokoto or Abuja. Be it in Daura, Funtua, you will always get vehicles going outside the state. There are also the student buses. The Marcopollo brand bus is dedicated to the students, from secondary to tertiary institution students, with just N20 as fare. We also introduced car hire services. We discovered that some prominent sons and daughters of the state, having flown from wherever to Katsina, the issue of getting to their village became a problem. We decided to buy brand new Kia Salon cars for that purpose. They have numbers of that section of the service such that you can call from any part of the country and they will be right there for you. There is also the bus hire service which is for mass activities. You may be doing wedding, holiday, condolences, any event for that matter, and you will need to convey people from one point to the other, this is where these busses, some air-conditioned, some ordinary, come handy. The difference in these busses is that unlike other vehicles, these ones are painted in white. The idea is that you know there are some areas where painted vehicles are not allowed to come in, or some do not even like it painted as they would not want to arose any suspicion that it is commercial. All you need do is give them a call and their services will be made available.

    How is patronage with those innovations?

    This has been exceptionally good. Eighty per cent of passengers in Katsina patronise Katsina transport because it is the cheapest. And that is why some of the passengers come as early as 5.30am because if you don’t come early, there is every possibility that you may leave late. Our fares are 40 per cent cheaper than any other one, both within the state and outside. We are a pride to the North.

    Any plan for insurance for both the drivers and passengers?

    That is one of the reasons our patronage is very high. Everybody is insured, including the vehicles. There is no vehicle of Katsina Transport you see on the road or the passengers in it that are not insured. The least any member of deceased can get here is N250, 000. You can do your findings and see which other transport company does as much as that. This is just the beginning of better things to come from this management. When you have a supportive governor who monitors your activities daily, coupled with dedicated staff, you don’t have any reason to fail. Tell me which state government controlled transport authority has as many as functioning vehicles we have? Tell me how many of them insure their staff, customers and even the vehicles? We are pacesetters in this area throughout the country. There are still more innovations that you shall be experiencing in the coming months.

    What was the staff strength before the inauguration and what is it now?

    At the inception, we employed more than 80 drivers. There used to be drivers without vehicles, yet they were being at the end of the month. That meant that they were just collecting salaries for nothing. Again, to increase our efficiency, unlike before where all you need to do to get a job was a piece of paper from somebody, we stopped all that. We engaged a retired Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) as consultant to recruit these drivers such that we even divided them into two – the commercial and the executive. The executives are those driving the car hired service while the commercial handle the general service. Now, all our drivers go on every six month’retraining to be in tune with driving etiquettes and things like that.

    It is compulsory, every six months, you must be available for the retraining.

  • How to prevent road accidents

    How to prevent road accidents

    Without doubt, the rate of road crashes and fatalities is still high in Nigeria despite the laws and activities of the various governments and their agencies. There is, therefore, an urgent need to unbiasely look into the reasons and take proactive actions to arrest the growing monster. I hereby proffer the following as workable approaches to stem the devastating tide.

    •That Driver Safety Training should be more intensive than it used to be in Nigeria. This has become expedient because most of the drivers did not go through the conventional driving schools.

    •Re-training of drivers, including the drivers of own-vehicles, should be compulsory even if it is not as regular as expected.

    •The Federal and state governments and their traffic Agencies should not be involved in the training and re-training of drivers. Rather, they should concentrate on traffic law enforcement. I am not saying this out of any selfish motive events in Nigeria is justifying this approach every passing day. For example, I witnessed the training programme of a government agency for drivers. We were about 50 in the class. At the end of the training programme, the instructors (officers of the agency) gave all the trainees (drivers) their telephone numbers to call for help whenever we’re arrested for any traffic offense by their fellow officers. This is the common practice among the officers of government traffic agency as an appreciation for participation in their training programmes. In actual fact, they have only succeeded in making the trainees become fearless, ready to break traffic laws and ready to be disobedient to traffic officers because they already have the numbers of those that can prevent them from facing the full wrath of the law. I personally tried it and it worked. No wonder, the training programmes by the government agencies have not been yielding the desired reduction in the rate of road accidents significantly.

    •Rather than taking up the re- training of drivers because of the monetary gains, they should focus mainly on the training and empowerment of driving school instructors that will be charged with the responsibility of training and re-training the drivers, enact and strictly enforce the traffic laws and regulations as well as properly handle traffic management for free flow of traffic and compliance. Let’s face the facts. How easy is it for any government agency to arrest, prosecute or fine drivers of companies that are paying them heavily on regular basis for the re-training of the same drivers?, The best practice which is even in operation in the United Kingdom, which is renown for Safety Standard is the empowerment of driving Schools by the Government’s Road Safety Agency (DSA), to handle the foundational training and re-training of all categories of drivers of public and private sector organisations.

    It is the duty of the Government Road Safety and Traffic Management Agencies to set and enforce Standards for the Driving Schools as well as set and enforce traffic laws and regulations for Drivers. This promotes fairness and effectiveness in their operations.

    This particular suggestion may not go down well the concerned Government Agencies in charge of Road Safety and Traffic Management at the Federal and State Government levels because they don’t want to forfeit the income being generated from this business of re-training Drivers.

  • Coscharis Motors gets Rolls-Royce franchise

    Coscharis Motors gets Rolls-Royce franchise

    Coscharis Motors has been appointed as dealer of Rolls-Royce in Nigeria.

    The franchise agreement was signed by Coscharis Group management and that of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Germany, which was represented by its Managing Director, Mr Geoff Briscoe and the Regional Dealer Development Manager, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited, Middle East, Africa and Latin America, Mr Mohamed Fawzi in Lagos.

    Coscharis team was led by its President/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Cosmas Maduka and the Group Managing Director, Mr Josiah Samuel.

    Maduka expressed joy over the achievement attained by the firm in signing on a high premium brand, such as Rolls-Royce, which celebrated its 10 years of production at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, England early this year.

    He said the choice of Rolls-Royce was borne out of its continued stance in identifying with world-class brands in keeping with the firm’s vision to build an institution that will be timeless in its relevance.

    According to him, a well-defined concept was initiated beforehand in which the market was analysed.

    Samuel expressed optimism that with the support of the brand, the company would grow the clientele base of the Rolls-Royce brand in Nigeria , assuring its customers of after sales service.

    Briscoe said in 10 years, Rolls-Royce has established a reputation as the benchmark of craftsmanship excellence, pointing out that the cars will celebrate the first of many decades in the British manufacturing success story.

    He stated that a commitment to perfection underlines Rolls-Royce’s position at the pinnacle of super-luxury manufacturing and was glad that Coscharis has joined the brand’s family, assuring it of its support in growing the market in Nigeria.

    He said Rolls-Royce Motor Cars was thrilled to get deal.

    According to him, the purchase of a Rolls-Royce car is a unique and personalised process, adding that the motor firm has tailored its service to every customer’s needs.