The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Abdul-Hafeez Toriola has stated that competent driving school instructors are a prerequisite for competent drivers’ training and skilled driver behaviour for improved road safety and a cleaner environment.
Delivering a keynote address at the year 2022 ‘Train-The-Trainer’ workshop organised by the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute (LASDRI) for Driving School Instructors and Operators in the State, Engr. Toriola noted that driving school instructors are major stakeholders in Lagos State because they help in ensuring that the first pillar of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration T.H.E.M.E.S agenda, which is Traffic Management and Transportation, is achieved via sound and competent training of first line drivers.
While identifying the impacts of road crashes on a nation’s economy, the victims and their families, he averred that proper training of drivers brings about safer roads devoid of the devastating effects of crashes that could negatively impact human health, capital resources and socio-economic development of the State.
The Permanent Secretary noted that the theme of the training programme: “Drivers’ Education: Panacea to Economic Growth and Development in a Smart City”, aptly reflects the present administration’s commitment and readiness to partner with relevant stakeholders in the transportation sector to evolve proactive solutions aimed at tackling numerous problems bedevilling public transportation in Lagos State.
He explained further that, with the proper driver’s education, road accidents, if not totally eliminated, may be reduced significantly as the human factor contributes to 90% per cent of road accidents, which is the highest when compared to other causes of accidents.
Earlier in her welcome address, the General Manager, Lagos State Drivers’ Institute, Mrs. Afusat Tiamiyu stated that in line with Mr. Governor’s desire to improve sanity on Lagos roads, the Institute has brought together a team of seasoned experts and safety professionals from different sectors such as transportation, security, insurance, traffic management and other, to brainstorm on the way forward, towards ensuring effective and safer use of the roads.
She explained that it is imperative to organise refresher training for driving school instructors of first-line drivers in an effort to reduce fatalities and severe injuries inflicted by unschooled and untrained drivers.
The General Manager added that efforts are also made on a yearly basis to improve on institutes’ driver’s training curriculum while, reflecting on the harmonised traffic rules and regulations so as to keep the drivers, especially the driving school instructors, abreast of the State Government’s traffic and transportation policies.