NIA trains drivers on safe, defensive driving techniques
A cross section of drivers at the training programme.
The Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) has conducted a one-day training for the drivers and fleet managers in the insurance industry in Lagos recently.
The Topic of the training was: “Achieving Zero Accident Through Safe Driving Technique; which was looked at from different angles by different facilitators.
The drivers were generally advised to be defensive in their driving. Although, there were about 4 different facilitators who made a presentation on the above-mentioned theme, but almost all of them made use of the term – Defensive Driving.
Defensive driving was defined as “driving to prevent accidents despite wrongdoing of other road users and despite adverse driving conditions; recognizing the hazard, understanding the defense & acting in time.
The facilitators listed factors responsible for safe driving on our road and safe driving techniques to include continuous road safety awareness programs targeted particularly for safe driving; consistent and continuous maintenance of road facilities; Regular Training of Drivers and regular mental alertness and physical fitness test for all drivers in order to ascertain the driver’s capacity to drive.
Other are drivers must be a defensive driver at all times; construction of traffic safety signs road infrastructures and educating individuals on their usage; presence of road traffic officers and traffic lights on our roads; separation of pedestrians walkways form vehicular road, as well as the construction of pedestrian bridges on major roads; Stakeholders should equally put their vehicles either (operational or personnel) in shape by subjecting them to consistent maintenance and enforcement of street trading, speed limit regulations and un-roadworthy vehicles.
