BY PHILIP NWOSU
Ahead of Schools resumption for the new academic session, this September, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Isolo unit branch Command, recently embarked on sensitization training programme to further educate school bus drivers, operating in the area on what to watch out for, while driving school children on the high ways in the state.
The sensitization programme which has become a regular feature as well as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), for officers of FRSC, in their host community, attracted schools within Okota, Isolo and FESTAC axis.
Close to twelve schools, with about twenty one drivers in attendance, brought the best out of the officers of the road marshals as they took the drivers through on what they should know and observe while driving on the roads.
Specifically, the drivers were admonished by the officers of the Safety Corps to see driving as a noble profession and never to look down on themselves under any circumstances. Driving work the stressed is God given vocation that should not be taken as any how job because of lives that would be involved in case of any incident or accident.
They further explained in the course of the program that, the federal government in her wisdom established the agency, to reduce drastically road crashes on the Nigerian road even as they confirmed that, the activities of FRSC on the Nigerian roads have reduced road crashes and saved many lives.
They emphasized again the importance of being extra careful on the part of the drivers, saying that, the school children they convey to and back, from schools, are tomorrow’s leaders of the country.
They also acknowledged the fact that, there are many users of the roads at all times, which calls for emotional intelligence and stable minds conditions to avoid unnecessary mistakes most people make while driving. The officers made case for defensive driving and urged the participants to embrace such attitude whenever they are on the wheel to forestall careless mistakes that may lead to unpleasant situation.
While advising the school bus drivers to be of good behaviour at all times, and live examplary before the school children, described as future of tomorrow, the Chief Route Commander of the Unit, Mr. Uko O. Uko warned on the danger of drinking while driving and thereby explained that, it is inexcusable for any School bus driver to indulge on this vice that may lead to sorry case if not dictated early enough.
The participants at the program thanked the officers of the agency and also advised that, such life saving program should be extended to other schools who may not have the opportunity to hear what they heard. They equally called on the proprietors and proprietress of schools to treat them with some kind of dignity, seeing the importance of their vocation as no society can do without the services of professional drivers, whether in the private or public sector.