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Tag: driving

  • Driving under the Influence: Consequences, Penalties, and What to Do if Arrested

    Driving under the Influence: Consequences, Penalties, and What to Do if Arrested

    Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a dangerous act that can jeopardise the lives of every road user, including the driver.

    Unfortunately, driving under the influence (DUI) is a common menace among drivers across the world. People drink and drive for various reasons.

    Some drivers have driven while drunk before and believe they can do it again without their driving skills impaired. Sometimes, alcohol might give you a false sense of security with a confidence boost that makes you feel drunk driving is something you can efficiently handle.

    There are also cases of drivers getting behind the wheel despite being aware that they are drunk because they are scared of leaving their car in a place they do not know well. However, with proper driving education, DUI is an avoidable occurrence.

    According to the Law Office of Aaron M. Black, PLLC, a firm with reputable Phoenix DUI lawyers, while drunk driving is a common occurrence on roads worldwide, there are instances when a driver may be wrongly accused of DUI.

    Some medications can mimic the effects of alcohol or drugs, which may lead to wrongful DUI convictions. A driver may also be wrongly accused of DUI due to a mistaken identity, malicious intent, prank, or misunderstanding.

    What is DUI?

    Driving under the influence (DUI) means operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs to a level that affects your ability to drive safely.

    Prescription drugs, illegal drugs, and even over-the-counter medications can cause impairment. About 1.19 million people worldwide

    Road traffic crashes result in the yearly death of about 1.19 million people worldwide. Of this, about 27 percent are caused by DUI. Therefore, drunk driving is a public health problem affecting not just drunk drivers but also innocent and sober people like pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and other drivers.

    Road crashes can be severe if the drunk driver is driving at high speed and on poor road design.

    Medical conditions that can be mistaken for DUI

    • Sleep apnea
    • Diabetes
    • Epilepsy
    • Schizophrenia
    • Tourette’s Syndrome
    • Heart diseases
    • Anxiety
    • Allergy
    • Migraine

    Common drugs that can cause DUI

    • Marijuana
    • Heroin
    • Cocaine
    • Mushrooms
    • Methamphetamine

    Prescription and over-the-counter medications that can cause DUI

    • Antidepressants
    • Valium
    • Amphetamines
    • Depressants
    • Diarrhea medications
    • Pain drugs
    • Cough syrups with codeine or hydrocodone
    • Opioids

    Is drunk driving a crime?

    Drunk driving is a crime in most countries. Depending on your local law, it may carry a fine or jail sentence, sometimes both.

    Consequences of drunk driving

    Driving is a complex activity involving the simultaneous use of different body parts while adapting to changing views. Alcohol or certain drugs can compromise your cognitive ability and responsiveness when behind the wheel.

    Accident

    Alcohol consumption can spike your blood sugar, which can lead to blurry vision. It can also cause brain malfunction, reducing the communication relay between your brain and your eyes.

    A drunk driver can also suffer from double vision. All of these can hinder proper vehicle control, which can lead to an accident. Accidents can result in the death of drivers and other road users.

    Criminal record

    Drivers arrested for DUI risk jail term, which can reflect on their record as an ex-convict after serving the jail term.

    A DUI conviction can impact your travel opportunities.

    Vehicle impoundment

    Law enforcement officers may impound the vehicle of a driver suspected or convicted of drunk driving.

    Loss of employment

    Employers may conduct criminal background checks on prospective employees. Drivers convicted of DUI might be screened out, especially if the job requires a driver’s license.

    Similarly, people employed as drivers may lose their jobs after being convicted of DUI.

    License suspension

    Your driver’s license may be suspended in addition to the fine or imprisonment. This is to deter others from taking similar actions.

    Higher insurance rates

    Insurance companies will typically increase the rate for customers with previous cases of DUI, as they are assumed to carry more risk than people without DUI offenses.

    Penalties for DUI

    The major penalty for DUI is usually either a fine or jail term, sometimes both.

    In addition, a drunk driver can be sued by accident victims and be mandated to pay compensation depending on the degree of injury caused.

    What to do if arrested for DUI

    Not every driver arrested for DUI is guilty. A DUI conviction is something no one should want on their record, as it can hurt your career.

    Although law enforcement officers are saddled with the responsibility of ensuring the safety of all drivers and road users, there are instances when sober drivers are wrongly accused.

    There are also instances of false DUI arrests, where an officer arrests you for drunk driving despite no evidence supporting such a claim.

    Certain health conditions, such as diabetes, can also lead to false and wrongful DUI arrests.

    Here is what to do if you or your loved ones are arrested for DUI:

    • Stay calm and polite: Although this can be a stressful moment for you, it is crucial that you remain calm and polite but firm about your rights.
    • Do not resist an arrest: Resisting an arrest or fighting a law enforcement officer can result in additional charges.
    • Avoid self-incrimination: Politely decline to answer questions that might implicate you. You are only required to provide basic identification information.
    • Request a lawyer: You have the right to an attorney. Hire a reputable DUI lawyer to defend your case.
    • Gather evidence: Document evidence relating to the arrest, including the time and location where the officer stopped you, details of eyewitnesses, and anything unusual that can prove your innocence, like medications you took before driving.

    Role of a DUI lawyer

    A DUI lawyer plays a vital role in protecting your rights and interests if you are arrested for drunk driving.

    Some of the roles of the lawyer include:

    • Proper assessment of the case and advising on the best possible outcome
    • Evaluating the prosecution’s case to find weaknesses that can be used to defend you
    • Negotiating with the prosecutor if needed
    • Ensuring you meet all deadlines and file all appropriate paperwork in due time as demanded by law
    • Represent you in court and provide you guidance throughout the case

  • Driving against traffic, attempted murder

    Driving against traffic is a common practice on Nigeria roads. This practice is prevalent in all the states and the Federal Capital Territory particularly the cities with heavy traffic flow. It has caused many vehicular crashes while a lot of innocent pedestrians have either been maimed or killed outrightly. It is, however, disheartening that many government officials, security agencies, traffic agencies and some highly placed Nigerians regularly commit this heinous traffic offence.

    Research revealed that people who drive against the traffic do so because they want to avoid being held up in traffic, take a short cut, bypass a longer route or rushing to meet up an appointment which is one of the effects of inadequate journey planning. No matter the reason, driving against traffic is a criminal offence which I want the government (Federal and State) to categorise as same with attempted murder.

    Overtime, the approved legal flow of traffic is usually registered in the subconscious of road users and the fact that a vehicle, tricycle or motorcycle can drive or ride against the traffic doesn’t register in their minds quickly. Hence the high number of innocent road users falling prey of the criminals driving against traffic. They are normally referred to as mad drivers or mad riders as the case may be. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and some state governments have prescribed psychiatric test for culprits of this evil practice.

    I hereby implore Executive, Legislative and Judicial arms of government at the Federal and state levels to further criminalise this offence by tagging it as attempted murder and the same judgement meted to the culprits. In addition,the relevant traffic management agencies should significantly improve their monitoring and enforcement mechanisms without compromise. These when done, will eliminate the crashes, injuries and deaths caused by driving against traffic.

  • Driving efficiency with driver app

    As a young child, I was always fascinated with the inner workings of technology, and what one could possibly achieve through it. How was my battery powered train set operated by remote control? What was this “engine thing” that seemed to be located within my toy cars? And the people on the radio and television – how did they get in there? And what made it possible for us to see and hear them so clearly?

    As I grew older and began to connect the dots, I realised a couple of things – that technology was designed for processes to run more efficiently. I also realised that for human beings – incorporating technology into everyday usage increased productivity, and I saw how this had a positive impact on everyday life, businesses and communities.

    In my role as Greenlight Operations Manager for West Africa – I’m constantly criss-crossing the region; especially Lagos, Abuja, Accra and Kumasi – cities where the Uber Greenlight Hubs are located. The Greenlight Hub is a dedicated support centre that provides drivers with established channels of communication to raise individual questions and concerns that they may have relating to using the Uber App. At the Greenlight Hubs, driver-partners are offered information sessions, tailored workshops focusing on training and skills development such as safety tips, crime prevention and financial tips. Potential driver-partners are also assisted at the Greenlight Hubs through the onboarding process. In my recent interactions with them, one theme that has come as consistent feedback is their reaction to the newly launched Uber driver app. For many drivers using the app globally and in West Africa there’s a general consensus that the new features provide an improved experience on the road and allows them to use the app more efficiently whether on the road or off. Thus further highlighting my long-held belief and understanding that technology shapes not just processes, but ensures an improved level of efficiency.

    So one might ask – what are the exact features of this app that make it better? For one, the new driver app has been made to be less complex and complicated to allow drivers to focus more on driving. It also provides them with real-time updates on market conditions around them and opportunities for more trips nearby. They can also choose to navigate to such nearby with just a tap.

    Also included in the app (and perhaps of great importance to the drivers) is an earning tracker that allows drivers to know how much they earned in their previous trip, to allow them to track their progress toward their financial goals. At Uber, we remain committed to creating business and economic opportunities for driver-partners and we are always looking at ways in which we can make their experience more memorable and continue to stimulate their growth as small business owners.

    Earlier this year, Uber’s CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi penned a blog post announcing the launch of the new driver app. According to him: “the new driver app was redesigned because we wanted to simplify the driver experience and the underlying engineering architecture that supports it. We knew we couldn’t take the approach we’d taken in the past: redesign the app based on what we thought drivers wanted, launch it, then hope for the best. Instead, we needed to listen to what drivers told us they needed, and shape the new app alongside them.”

    Improving the overall experience of using our app for driver-partners remains one of our key priorities. And as such, that is why the technologically enabled Greenlight Hubs will keep improving customer service and driver support. The new driver app will benefit driver-partners in West Africa, primarily by making them more efficient, with improved efficiency means they will make more trips and ultimately more earnings. I remain excited at the possibilities and opportunities, that Uber, through technology makes available to its 9,000 active drivers in Nigeria and 6,000 active drivers in Ghana. With these new features in the app, we are ensuring that drivers and riders benefit from a seamless experience.

  • I miss my joints, clubbing, driving –Osun monarch Oba Agunsoye relives one year on the throne

    –Osun monarch Oba Agunsoye relives one year on the throne

    A first class traditional ruler in Osun State, Elegboro of Ijebu-Jesa, Oba Moses Olufemi Agunsoye,the Abikeyin Ekun II, in Oriade Local Government Area of the state, today marks his first anniversary on the throne. In this interview with our correspondent, ADESOJI ADENIYI, the monarch, who retired as a senior civil servant with the Federal Ministry of Industry before he became a monarch, relives how he mounted the throne, what he misses now that he is a king and other interesting issues.

     

    How has it been in the last one year?

    So far so good. It has been a thing of joy because this did not come as a surprise that God elevated me. But you know when there is a change of status, especially becoming an Oba, there is no way there will not be challenges. But throughout my life, I have learnt so many things. I have learnt to stand up to challenges and  move on. Working in the Federal Ministry of Industry, I have learnt so much. I was a zonal coordinator, controlling about seven states with many people working under me. There were  challenges when I came here to pick the throne but I was able to handle the people because of the managerial acumen that I have acquired as a civil servant. So, I was able to surmount the challenges. Nothing really was too big for me.

    How was the selection process and and your installation as the Elegboro of Ijebu-Jesa?

    There was a divine intervention in the process though it was not easy. We passed through many stages but we thank God eventually for our victory. When you look at the lineage, the process and the number of contestants, it should have been a direct process for the Agunsoye family to emerge. Unfortunately, everyone was allowed to contest but eventually, God took absolute control and made it easy. The outcome was beautiful, the whole town was jubilating. Actually they saw me as the right choice, that the kingmakers had done the right thing in picking me. So things have been easy and people remain  happy. So, we really have the divine intervention that made the whole thing easy and helped us to surmount all the challenges facing us. So we thank God for the people’s acceptance.

    Was there a stage of your life that prepared you for this throne?

    One or two things that I have to say about myself as a person. Right from my youth in the Agunsoye family, I don’t know how it came about, but I found out that I was the first person being called prince. Right from my secondary school days, from Form One, people had known me as Prince Agunsoye. I was a football player; on the football field,  they called me prince. So, I think it’s God. I am the last born of the family, the Agunsoye family, and that is why I adopted the title Abikeyin Ekun Agunsoye 2. After the demise of my father when I was three years old, people began calling me Abikeyin Ekun. So, right from my secondary school days, I don’t know how I came about using the title of prince. But from all my journey in life, the love of my people had always been in my heart. Even at a stage, about 10 years ago, one of my bishops asked me where I worked because every weekend, I must be in Ijebu-Jesa for one thing or the other, not because I was building myself to become the king. This just came naturally to me. As a person, what is paramount in my mind is love for my town. And I also tried my best to support the system to make things work out. Anytime I was called for developmental projects, I contributed the little I had. I gave scholarships when I was working. All this brought me very close to the town. Also, my rapport with the princes and princesses was robust. We have what they call Committee of Princes and Princesses. Among them, I played my role effectively. So, I will say God had already ordained me before I became the king. I will also say that my attitude and my way of life made the people to love me.

    What is the update on the crisis occasioned by the creation of Ijesa North Traditional Council among  communities in Oriade and Obokun local governments of which Ijebu-Jesa is a principal town?

    Actually then, it was not a serious issue. You know, in Ilesa things happen that you cannot explain. People fought for this Ijesa North Traditional Council, it was not a single person. We have Owa-Oye, the Elegboro of Ijebu-Jesa, Owaloke, Owamiran and many other Obas, who fought to pull out of Ilesa. So, we thank God that eventually the Ijesa North Traditional Council was created. It was unfortunate that our Kabiyesi then, the Elegboro, was a bit down for almost 10 years and could not attend meetings. But thank God since I came on board, the acceptability has been great. Love has been radiating among us. Between Obokun and Oriade, there is what we call peaceful transition. What we normally do is to rotate the chairmanship on a yearly basis between Obokun and Oriade. The last chairman in Oriade was the Kabiyesi Ogunmokun, the Akeji of Ikeji-Ile. He came on board because there was no Elegboro, there was no Owaloko, there was no Apetu. These are the three rotational presidents. Because there must not be a vacuum, when it came to the turn of Oriade, all the Obas unanimously picked Akeji. But since last July, it has moved to Obokun and the current president is Owamiran. This is for one year and after one year, it will come back to Oriade. So, there has been cordial relationship among the obas in the two council areas. Now, we have young Obas with like minds and we are working together to develop our domains.

    What is your agenda for the transformation and development of Ijeu-Jesa?

    Actually, since I came on board, a lot of transformation has come to Ijebu-Jesa in terms of physical, capital and human developments.  My vision is to see that Ijebu-Jesa becomes a toast of this environment in Ijesaland. Within so short a period that I became the Elegboro, I have put in place a modern office with two large rooms, where I can receive visitors and work. In the last one year, I have completed an international market with 20 lock-up stores for the use of my people. Within this period, the government has given us a legal aid council. We have just finished refurbishing the magistrate and the high courts, which we have handed over to the state and the federal governments for the lawyers and judges to use. Then coming to individuals, who are my subjects, Rotimi Obeisun Investment has been performing wonderfully. He is God-sent. He has set up radio and television stations. He has set up Timsed Beverages plant. Timsed Confectionery plant. He has built Timsed Civic and Event Centre, Timsed Cinema and brought Tantalizer here too. He has also set up an Agoro-allied and rice processing plant, a fertilizer plant. Obeisun is a gift to us. If a man could put up huge investments like these in our domain, we can see a bright future for our people. So when there is cooperation between an Oba and his subjects both within and in diaspora, there is so much we can achieve together. We really thank God for what we have achieved so far. The song of one of our late sons, I.K. Dairo, “Ijebu-Jesa di America”, is coming to reality in our own time. Our town is really moving forward and we give all thanks and adoration to Almighty God.

    Are you not worried about the massive youth unemployment and restlessness in all parts of Nigeria, a situation that has given rise to all forms of crime?

    Unemployment is a global issue. Not only in Nigeria, the whole world is feeling its effect. Because of automation in the technological world, most jobs have taken many people out of job. Automation and robotic way of doing things are really producing very serious challenges. You know, my experience in the Federal Ministry of Industry at the Industrial Inspectorate Department, where I retired, had made me see so much. I had seen and I had been to so many factories all over the country because that’s  my job. We know that technology is taking away many jobs but that is not to say that we will sit down, fold our arms and do nothing. My community here is an agrarian area and we are trying  to engage our farmers, to see how we can add value to their products. We are going to set up cottage industries to use the farmers’ produce as raw materials. When farmers bring their products at the same time and there is a glut, there will be a problem. So we are going to do it in a way that people will be relieved when they find markets for their products. Those who plant cassava we will get cottage industries to buy their product and process it into cassava flower, while those planting banana to turn it to plantain chips will also get help and so on.

    I have just spoken with the government to see how we can lend a helping hand concerning the school feeding programme by making our farmers to supply some of the materials for preparing the meals for school pupils.  We are also planning a business venture, the Egboro International, to help market the farmers’ products. There is a place abandoned by the government and I am talking to my people, those who are rich, to come together to revive the place and make it suitable for our people to produce plantain chips for school children since there is now a ready market for it.

    So, coming to the youth, we are encouraging them to learn a trade instead of riding commercial motorcycles. They school not just rely on their educational qualifications; they need to learn some trades and acquire additional skills. So when they ask for help, we will be able to support you once you have a skill. If it’s barbing salon or any other trade, we will support you once you have the skill.  We also give scholarships. You know, I said youths going into crime is a global matter but we are being creative in the way we want to solve the problem in our environment here.

    What is your view about the clamour for a constitutional role for traditional rulers?

    It will be the best thing if the government could give constitutional roles to Obas. You know in those days, they say Oba  lo ni’le, meaning,kings owned the land. When we say so, the kings were very powerful, they are the nearest to the people. You remember our late Oba Adesoji Aderemi, the then Ooni of Ife, he was governor in the old Western Region. There was more respect for Obas but now that they don’t have constitutional roles things are different. The Obas only beg the government for everything now and it should not be so.  Meanwhile, we are the first people in distress run to before they get to police or the government. We settle a lot of disputes everyday. So, we need the constitution to back some of our functions to be able to get funds to respond quickly to issues. We can work hand in hand with council authorities.

    What do you miss now that you are king; things you used to do but cannot do anymore as a king?

    I miss my social life. I used to go to parties but can’t do that now. I used to go to joints and clubs. But if I continue, it can be used against me. I used to drive a lot. I drove from here in Ijebu-Jesa to Jos (Plateau State). Today. I won’t be allowed to do that. Even my wife will say no, don’t. Driving is my hobby. By the nature of my job at the Department of Inspectorate, I moved from one state to the other. I also cooked a lot. I love cooking. I cooked by myself when I was in Benin for seven and a half years and in Jos for 10 and a half years. I took pepper soup in joints but that I can’t do anymore. The throne has taken away my social life but I thank God for putting me in an exalted position where people come to meet me and I go to meet people too. A times, I ask God, is it me? Anywhere you enter, your seat is reserved. Also, some of my friends don’t come to me, they think I am the king. But I encourage a lot of them not to run away from me.

    How was your first day as king?

    I kept asking God, is this true? A lot of people were jubilating because of me. I was overwhelmed with joy and truly see the hand of God in my becoming the king. The very year I retired from the civil service was the year I was made the king. I know God is on throne. Today, one of my prayer points is not to allow the throne get into my head so that I won’t lose focus and do exactly what God had ordained me to do for my people. I want to remain what I have been, not to become proud.

    Are you planning to take a new wife for the throne?

    Not me. That has never been on my mind.

    Even with overtures, can you change your mind?

    No, I have been alone before now and exercised self control. I had seen so much pressure in the past and I summoned it. No, I don’t feel any problem.

    Are you not overwhelmed by requests from people?

    Yes, but I have a personal assistant that assesses people. Many came for genuine reasons but a lot for frivolous demands. They will just look at you and come forward to collect money.  Even some will ask for things not within your reach. But we surely attend to genuine requests. The ones I can not handle, I solicit the support of my subjects.

  • Dangers of driving against traffic

    Over the years, lots of men and women, young and old, have been killed or maimed by vehicle owners moving against the traffic.

    This offence of driving against the traffic is more common when there is heavy traffic is more common when there is heavy traffic on one lane, thereby prompting the impatient and disobedient drivers or riders to illegally divert to the lane of oncoming vehicles.

    Having seen the meaning of and cause of this offence, let us examine the psychology and consequences of the offence.

    When a person is following a routine overtime, it will be registered in his or her subconscious mind, thereby making it possible for him or her to perform that same task without giving much thought to it. For example, if a person has been moving around in a house for a while, he or she can move to several parts of the house even in the dark without stumbling because every nook and corner of the house is already registered in his subconscious mind.

    Similarly, when a road user’s mind is already made up about the direction of the traffic flow, he may not quickly think that a driver or Rider can drive or ride against the traffic even though he knows that there are divers and riders in the country. This is the reason many people have fallen victims of the offence of driving against the traffic.

    Driving against the traffic can result the following:

    • Crashes with oncoming vehicles who might not be expecting those driving against the traffic.
    • Confusion for other road users, who are scrambling to avoid having collision with the vehicles driving against the traffic.
    • Crushing of pedestrians who have gotten used to looking at only are traffic direction before crossing the road and those backing the traffic without expecting vehicles der be coming from behind. Most of the vehicle owners who drive against traffic are reckless. Most of them do hit-and-run.

    It is very disheartening that VIPs, police and other security officers are also guilty of this offence.

    Unless there is official diversion because of road construction, maintenance or obstruction, no one irrespective of his/her status should drive against the traffic.

    It is a form of traffic madness and this is one of the reasons the Lagos State Government in its traffic laws prescribed a psychiatry test for anyone that commits this offence of driving against the traffic in addition to paying the stipulated fine.

    I hereby recommend that the Federal Government through the Federal Road Safety Commission and the State Governments through their traffic management Agencies must stand firmly against this office and take every possible step to prevent it through enforcement with appropriate penalties and everyone that cause accident or kills as a result of driving against the traffic should be prosecuted and jailed.

    Where compromise is established between the Driver and the vehicle occupants is established, they should also be prosecuted with the Driver or Rider as the Case may be.

    Members of the public should also commence the habit of shouting at the offenders and snapping their vehicles with the number plates for direct reporting to the appropriate traffic management authorities and for posting on the social media as a way of curbing this destructive driving attitude which is currently pervading every part of the country no matter whose Ass is gored.

    It is a shameful thing that Nigerian is still one of the countries with the highest rate road traffic crashes and fatalities in the committee of nations. It has therefore become expedient for every possible step, no matter how Crude to be taken to drastically stem the very sad tide. A stitch in time saves nine.

     

  • Dangers of distraction in driving

    The increasing rate of road accidents resulting from distraction is becoming more worrisome in Nigeria thereby calling for more intensive driver education and traffic law enforcement to prevent further loss of lives on Nigeria roads.

    Distraction is any act that takes a driver’s or rider’s attention away from the path of travel for more than one or two seconds depending on the condition of the road, traffic and speed.

    The agents or causes of distraction include the following:

    • The use of mobile phone:- Receiving phone calls, making phone calls, reading text messages, sending text messages, searching for phone numbers, reading or sending social media messages while driving constitutes distraction whether you are using a hands-free device or not.

    These acts have become too common now, calling for strict and unbiased enforcement of the relevant traffic regulations by officers of the Federal Road Safety Commission and the State Government/FCT Traffic Management Agencies nationwide.

    • Reading:-Reading of newspaper, street map, navigator or book whether the traffic is heavy or light, amounts to distraction.
    • Searching:– Searching for house address, vehicles or other facilities while driving is another form of dangerous distraction.
    • Toddling with musical gadgets:– Changing CDs, Radio stations adjusting mp3 music channels and allied activities constitute distraction.
    • Gazing:- Some drivers are fond of looking at the opposite sex and road side events forgetting the complex nature of driving.
    • In-car discussion, argument or quarelling:- Some drivers are sometimes distracted into engaging in hot arguments or quarrel with passengers or bystanders. This also reduces the level of concentration on driving.
    • Children and pets:- Keeping children and pets in the vehicle without anyone to put them in check could cause a dangerous distraction.
    • Uncleanliness:- Not keeping the interior of the car clean could attract cockroaches, ants and other insects which could cause distractions while driving.

    The results of distraction include:

    • Inadequate attention on the path of travel.
    • Inadequate and delayed information gathering, visual and hazard perception.

     

     

    1. Unsafe reaction to emergencies.
    2. Lane indiscipline.
    3. Erratic interpretation of information and wrong judgment.
    4. Improperly coordinated driving and braking.
    5. Prone to driving errors and crashes.

    Consequent upon the dangers of every form of distraction, I use this medium to appeal to all categories of Drivers and vehicle Owners to avoid all acts of distraction to save their lives and the lives of other road users.

     

     

  • Driving, corruption and safety

    Driving is a complex task and its mastery develops overtime with the right quantity and quality of training (theory and practical). To ensure safety on Nigeria road, it is expedient that every driver and vehicle owner, particularly, holders of driver licence must be exposed to quality training on driving and safety. This is because it is a universal truth that over 80 per cent of road accidents are attributable to the human factor (Drivers).

    It is, therefore, an act of corruption and a safety risk for a man or woman, young or old, literate or illiterate to put a vehicle on the road without having the right level of training in an accredited driving school as legally required in Nigeria.

    The procedure stipulated by the Federal Government through its agencies for the processing of driver licence is to go through the accredited driving schools where the E-Certificate for the Licence processing will be generated.

    It is, therefore, another act of corruption for any citizen of Nigeria to bypass the accredited driving schools and go through the backdoor of FRSC, VIO, MVAA/SBIR to obtain driver licence.

    Hundreds of thousands of people who don’t even know how to drive  vehicles are currently holding the Nigeria Driver Licence which they obtained through the backdoor of corruption. That is, many licensed killers are currently holding the steering on Nigerian roads. So, innocent road users must be vigilant.

    The driver licence and DSSP Portal handshake introduced by the FRSC in February 2017 will however curb these corrupt backdoor practices on the condition that the process is not corrupted again by the corrupt cabals in the system.

    It is an act of corruption to obtain or aid anyone to obtain a driver licence in Nigeria without going through accredited driving schools and without being given an uncompromised Theory and Practical Tests by the VIOs.

    While driving on the road, every violation of the traffic rules and regulations is an act of corruption.

    Every compromise in the enforcement of traffic rules and regulations is an act of corruption.

    Taking a cue from the word of President Muhamadu Buhari, if we don’t kill the corruption in the driver licence system, road safety administration, driving school operation and the driving habits of drivers in Nigeria, corruption will continue to kill irreparable lives and valuable properties on Nigerian roads. The Federal Road Safety Commission has taken the bull by the horn through the DSSP and DL portals with other control mechanisms. While encouraging the FRSC not to relent, all other stakeholders should get more committed and join hands with the FRSC to achieve the common goal of quality driver education through the accredited driving schools, issuance of licence to only qualified drivers and ultimately, safety on Nigerian roads.

    It is therefore time for the Governments,  Regulatory Agencies, Driving Schools and all other Nigerians to get more committed to establishing a very transparent and corrupt-free process of licensing Drivers or obtaining Driver licence for the safety of all and to the glory of God. Your compromise or corrupt acts of today can endanger your career, life or family in the future. What you are doing today is a seed which will yield fruits for you tomorrow (positive or negative).

    Individual Drivers and Vehicle Owners should voluntarily go to Standard accredited Driving schools for refresher training programmes to further boost their capacity for safer road use. In the same vein, Employers of Drivers must regularly train their Drivers through standard accredited Driving Schools as specified in the enabling Acts of the Federal Road Safety Commission(1988 and 2012 as ammended).

     

    Prospective fresh Driver licence Applicants  should first go Driving Schools for their E-Certificates before going to the Driver licence centres for processing. The practice of going to Driver licence centres to give driver licence money to FRSC, VIO/VIS, SBIR/MVAA is illegal and could cause problems for the Applicants. Many that did that in the past are currently regretting it.  It is an act of corruption to the break the due process.

    AS WE ALL SAY “CORRUPTION, NOT IN MY COUNTRY”, let us walk our talk for the safety of us all.

     

     

  • Distraction and driving

    Distraction means the ‘drawing away of the mind or the drawing away of a person’s focus from the main task to other people, places or things.

    Driving, as I used to enumerate in my teachings, is a complex task which involves the simultaneous use of several organs of the body (eyes, nose, ears, brain, hands and legs) in a continuously changing environment to gather and interpret information for appropriate decision making so as to ensure effective and safe vehicle control.

    Taking a deep look at the definition of driving as spelt out above, it is therefore implied that distraction is a terrible enemy of safe driving which every driver and rider must take every necessary step to avoid no matter the pressure or temptation.

    In this article, I will briefly remind vehicle owners, employers of drivers and riders and most importantly, the drivers and riders themselves (everyone who sits behind the wheel) of the dangers of distraction while driving (or riding).

    While driving (or riding), the eyes of the drivers must be devoted to scanning the road and the road environment (front, back, right and left) to get the big picture and also pay attention to details, gather information about potential threats so as to be able to take appropriate actions to avoid accidents.

    The ears must be at alert to gather information about sounds inside or around the vehicle. The nose must also be at work to gather information about the odour of burning cables, fuel leakages, dry water radiators and other information.

    In the same vein, the brain must be ready at every point in time to interpret every information gathered by the eyes, ears and nose and transit them into action for the hands and legs to readily take to avert disasters on the road.

    Therefore, anything or any activity which interferes with the alertness or readiness of the eyes, ears, nose, brain, hands and legs to be alert and function appropriately either in information gathering, interpretation or action constitutes a distraction.

    Such distractions include the following:

    • Turning the eyes away from the path of travel to look at a person or things for more than one or two seconds.
    • Operating a satellite navigator or reading direction map while driving.
    • Making or receiving phone calls while driving (including hand free).
    • Reading or sending text messages while driving.
    • Chatting on the phone while driving.
    • Caressing an opposite sex with one hand while driving.
    • Adjusting radio stations, CDs or DVDs while driving.
    • Watching videos or films or the dashboard screen while driving.
    • Looking at children or pet on the back seat of the vehicle while driving.
    • Gazing at the face of the passenger (s) you are discussing with in the vehicle while driving.
    • Quarrelling or arguing with Passengers in the vehicle.
    • Fixing earphone into the ears while driving is distracting the ears from hearing what they need to hear to ensure the right information are gathered.
    • Putting one leg on the seat, dashboard or elsewhere instead of the floor in case of automatic transmission cars.

    The above mentioned are some of the actions that constitute distraction and must be avoided to ensure alertness in hazard perception, interpretation of information for effective and safe vehicle control. The traffic law enforcement agencies need to be more proactive in arresting and prosecuting the violators of the laws on distraction and other traffic offences. This will go a long way in enhancing the safety- consciousness of drivers for safe driving.

  • Mmm of driving

    Monitor your Vehicle. Every safety-conscious driver must carry out a pre-drive inspection of the vehicle which is the first level of vehicle monitoring. Before starting the engine of the vehicle in the morning, driver must check the level of water in the radiator, oil in the engine, brake oil, fuel, lights and indicators, vehicle particulars, windscreen and windows, wheel nuts, tyre condition (including the extra), mirrors, wipers, brake system, horn, fire extinguishers, vehicle tools, first aid materials, the loads, etc.

    Monitor the dashboard oftentimes for the displayed messages and your speedometer as precautionary measures for safety. While in motion, it is very vital to regularly monitor all the mirrors by brief glances.

    • M: Monitor the road. Every safety-conscious driver must monitor the road and avoid every form of distraction while driving. Drivers must focus deep attention on the road for traffic signs, road markings, bumps or humps, potholes, bends, traffic lights, junctions, etc.

    The faster a driver discovers a potential hazard(distance and time management) goes a long way to determine how fast he or she avoids accidents while driving.

    • M: Monitor the other road users. Every safety-conscious driver must frequently monitor the activities of other road users to be able to relate with them safely on the road. These other road users include pedestrians (including school children and the physical challenged), bicyclists, motorcyclists, tricyclists, truck pushers, animals and drivers of other types of vehicles. Failure to correctly anticipate the actions or inactions of other road users has a lot to do with the degree of accident avoidance on the road.

    Weapon of rating: The 2015 rating of Nigeria as the three country with the worst cases of road traffic crashes and fatalities among 193 countries was a tonic to both the government and non-governmental organisations towards the reduction of the rate of accidents in Nigeria.

    Similarly, I suggest that the Federal Road Safety Commission and/or other government agencies, such as the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) should start the rating of road traffic crashes and fatalities state by state (and also organisation by organisation) to serve as a challenge to the state governments and organisations to improve on driver education, road Infrastructures, and Enforcement, all geared towards a drastic reduction in the rate of road traffic accidents and fatalities in Nigeria as a whole.

    The recent International Conference of the Association of Driving Instructors of Nigeria (ADIN) was an avenue to give awards to deserving state governments for their vital roles in road infrastructure, traffic accident reporting, traffic management and road safety administration, among other awards.

    Relevant government agencies and organisations should take a cue from this initiative by ADIN to further promote safety on Nigeria’s roads.

  • Driving and communication

    Driving is a complex task which involves the simultaneous use of several organs of the body (eyes, ears, nose, brain, hands, and legs) in a continuously changing environment (smooth road, dusty road, roads dotted with potholes, wet road, cloudy road, dark road, etc.)

    Driving activities must be well co–ordinated, taking into consideration the activities of other road users with the goal of ensuring effective and safe vehicle control.

    At any point in time, a driver or rider must drive or ride predictably to prevent causing confusion for the upcoming and oncoming vehicles and other road users.

    Communication in driving involves the use of turn indicators (pointers), hands, hazard light (double pointers), reverse light, full and beam lights to communicate the situations or their intentions to other road users.

    There are however two very vital points which many drivers and riders(including vehicle owners) don’t know which I want to use this article to elaborate upon.

    1. Turn indicator (pointer) or hand is not the only signal to indicate that a driver or rider wants to make a turn to the right or to the left. The positioning of the vehicle is also an important signal as to where a vehicle wants to turn to. That is, whether you clearly see the pointer of the vehicle ahead of you or not, the moment you see that the front of the vehicle is tilting to the right or left, you should know that the vehicle is likely to make a turn to that direction where it is tilting to. This is another element of Hazard perception. It is also very vital that you always obey the following – distance rule to avoid being a victim in this type of situation.

    Therefore, drivers and riders must not take the turn indicator or pointer as the only signal they have to see before knowing that the vehicle ahead wants to make a turn. The driver may not know that the pointer is not working, may forget to switch it on or may deliberately move about without functional pointers.  It is however very important that every driver and rider should use the pointer and sometimes, hand to signal their intention to turn. This also should be done early enough and not too sudden.

    1. Hazard lights (double pointers) are not to be used when the vehicle is in motion. It is meant for faulty stationary vehicles. Any vehicle that is still moving on the road must not use double pointers, no matter the status of the drivers of such vehicles or their principals. If the vehicle has a fault or any form of challenge, it must not use double pointers as long as it is still moving and not parked by the road side or on the road.

    It is very common today for emergency vehicles, Police vehicles, military vehicles and several others to be using double pointers. It is against the law. when visibility is impaired (when it is cloudy or raining), you are to use the fog light or low beam and not the double pointers.

    When double pointers are used, nobody will be able to know when you want to turn right or turn left even as most drivers don’t remember to turn them off when turning thereby making their movements unpredictable to the oncoming and upcoming vehicles. This is an aspect of safety risk in driving.

    Communication is very important in driving but it must be adequately and correctly used to prevent confusion, accidents and fatalities.