Saturday, June 30, 2018

SAN Excel: Licensed to Drive or Unlicensed for Death


Adeosun Yinka SAN: 

Are drivers really tested before issuance of licence? In the days of old, at least in the 60s, driver licence was a big issue. It was celebrated. VIO would test a driver by parking the big truck on the ascent of a hill place and then match box at the rear tyre. The driver is instructed to move without rolling back. 

The Stone Age practice of attempting to stop trailers rolling back by placing shocks or wedges shows a teacher teaching pupils the use of Slide Rule in the age of Artificial Intelligence. It was not every Tom Dick and Harry that issues Licence. This should still be the case. Testers were tested and monitored. Maybe the VIO or whosoever issued the licence have a relative on that queue.

I am yet to get my licence in the United Kingdom after driving for over three decades in Nigeria. It is serious issue. Infringements lead to point deductions which could lead to revocation.

Root cause analysis is required here. A Dutch proverb says, You need to go as high as you can in order to get to the source of the river.

The failure of the driver has to do with his knowledge, the training he was subjected to and the appreciation of the hazard he (conveying an inflammable and explosive product) poses to other road users. If there was a big tipper or truck right behind him, that may have acted as a stopper.
This is a similar trend. It could happen again. It is time to ask ourselves tough questions.

When the dust settles, we may be back to same spot.

Olawale Oladapo



I think it’s a reflection of failure on the part of FRSC and VIO officials. Their only interest while on the road perhaps is “what the day brings to their pockets” rather than safety! 

I was once a bus conductor in the early 80’s when the fear of VIO was the beginning of safety especially between Ikirun - Oshogbo and Ajase - Ilorin routes. Aside from the thorough vehicle inspections, both the driver and conductor had identification badges registered with the VIO and attached to every commercial vehicle road license. Today, however, they only stop vehicles to extort money from the drivers irrespective of the vehicle’s road worthiness.

Dr. Omolola Omoteso: 

Thanks! But they know. Business leaders know. They only prefer to make more money by using ancient tankers. It took people to draw away from kerosene before other means of cooking gained grounds. Remember how we used to line up!


Olawale Oladapo: 
They owned the fleet gan paapa

Dr. Omolola Omoteso:
I jus tire for naija matter! Ordinary policy to phase out ancient tanker... We may wait till another mishap before it happens... We the SANe citizens must not stop directing towards what is right.

Olawale Oladapo: 
If the government is not doing anything about all these tragedy that may imply it is benefiting the government or how else can one explain their seemingly indifference stance except the usual rhetoric “We shall bring the perpetrators to book or we are on top of the situation”

Dr. Omolola Omoteso:
Perhaps when tragedy happens, money is paid under the table. Just thinking out loud... There must be an explanation. Lagos will fix the bridge but is Lagos really paying? By the way, any damage is an opportunity for corruption. It is why folks are prosecuted for fixing LGA roads without "approval"!

Olawale Oladapo: 
Hmmmm. What a complex nation!

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