Senate set to curb menace of reckless driving on Nigerian roads

The Senate has lamented the menace of rising cases of accidents on Nigerian roads. The upper chamber attributed the rate of road accidents to the recklessness and low level of literacy of the drivers. We don’t hear about the reckless drivers being charged with manslaughter, Senator Abdullahi said Worried over the rising cases of road accidents across the country, the Senate on Tuesday, May 8, suggested ways these could be curbed.

The senator representing Niger North senatorial district, Sabi Abdullahi, called for the prosecution of reckless drivers who cause road accidents, Premium Times reports.

Reports show that Abdullahi made this call while contributing a motion on the need to address the low level of literacy amongst drivers in Nigeria sponsored by Umaru Kurfi (APC, Katsina Central)​.

Kurfi, who said that some Nigerian drivers lack the basic skills of reading and writing, called on relevant transportation agencies to ensure that drivers in various sectors posses the necessary qualifications to make them employable.

According to him, the rate of road accidents on Nigerian roads could be attributed to the recklessness and low level of literacy of the drivers because they have little or no knowledge of signs that guide the use of roads.

“The high rate of road accidents caused by motorcycles popularly known as ‘okada’ is not news any longer. The use of Okada has become such a menace that some cities in the country have gone ahead to place a ban on this means of transportation because it has created a lot of problems. It is appalling to note that these Okada riders on closer scrutiny are children, some, less than 18 years of age, with very little or no education on the navigation and understanding of road signs and its application.

In his contribution, Abdullahi said: “Its almost as though we don’t have the capacity to apply the law. Accidents happen and we just hear the news. We don’t hear about the reckless drivers being charged with manslaughter.

“The Road Safety (FRSC) don’t stop and arrest reckless and drunk drivers. We need to look beyond the reading and writing and focus on the behaviour of these drivers on the road,” he said.

The Senate president, Bukola Saraki, thereafter, mandated the committee on transport to summon the government establishments and other stakeholders responsible for road safety to make sure that employed drivers must possess the necessary qualification in addition to being able to read, write and communicate effectively in English language and must have also been tested on road signs application.

Meanwhile, it was reported that a fatal accident involving the convoy of the wife of Abia state governor, Nkechi Ikpeazu, reportedly resulted in the death of two women with several others sustaining various degrees of injuries.

It was reported that the crash which occurred on Tuesday, April 3, also left with some in critical condition.

Sources in the convoy said the accident occurred at Ndiolumbe in Isiala Ngwa north local government when the governor’s wife was returning from Obingwa local government area.

Credit: NAIJ.NG