By Angela Nwokolo
May the
souls of all dead road crash victims on Nigerian roads rest in peace and at the
bosom of the Almighty.
Indeed, it
is sad to imagine the huge economic and psychological burden road crash bring
to families of the victims especially in a country like Nigeria where most
travelers are not covered by any appropriate or efficient insurance policy.
Certainly, it is an indisputable fact that many incidents of road crash have
been associated with PEACE Mass Transport Company and it is least surprising
that many negative views have been expressed against the Management of Peace
Mass.
Indeed, the situation calls for a thorough
investigation in the operations of Peace mass to enable the company improve its
accident prevention measures especially on those that relate to human
errors.
Whilst
acknowledging that no preventable road death should be allowed, it is also
important to state that the Management of Peace mass must be highly disturbed
about these ugly incidents as they add no credit to its image but only deplete
its assets. However, any objective analyst on road safety ought to know that
some of these incidents are unpreventable because of the poor conditions of
Nigerian roads.
More so, it
is a shared blame between drivers and passengers because at times passengers
that try to caution a driver to drive with care are even harassed by the
majority of passengers that are more interested in getting to their destination
early without due consideration to their safety.
In fact,
road crashes are not peculiar to Peace mass but for its huge fleet operations
which may be about the biggest in Nigeria, so it sure takes its proportionate
share of road mishaps.
This is
really why when a vehicle of Peace mass gets involved in a road crash; it
appears as if all their vehicles are unsafe. In as much as such conclusions on
Peace mass are not very correct, there is great need for the company to take
apt steps to improve on its safety practices. The recent step of installing
speed limiters in over 300 vehicles in its fleet is highly commendable but this
is not enough.
The peace
mass drivers need proper monitoring, observance of good rest to avoid fatigue
and special driving lessons. Given the highly beneficial services the
Peace Mass renders to millions of road users in Nigeria at relative affordable
rates and the dearth of alternative transportation companies that wide reach,
it is obvious that Peace mass has become a necessity. Thus, the need to ensure
that its management engages in safer road use practices cannot be over
emphasized. I suggest the Management of Peace mass conducts proper research on
road crashes involving its vehicles seek a special partnership initiative with
the Management of the FRSC that will assist it in reorienting its drivers and
modernize its operations to fit acceptable standard practices of fleet
operations.
Again, Peace
Mass vehicles are not crash magnets and a ban on its operations is inappropriate
as it will not solve the problem but place additional burden on road users that
have very limited options for affordable commuting needs. However, PEACE mass
transit Management should take immediate steps to give Nigerians REAL
peace on the roads by enhancing the safety of its passengers and vehicles
whilst offering its passengers a channel to report its defaulting drivers.
(Nwokolo is a Member of
PATVORA Initiative, a Road safety NGO. She can be reached via: nwokoloangela@yahoo.com)
Very objective opinion that should be well shared
ReplyDeleteIssorite! The writerhaas done well
ReplyDeleteOn point. now over to peace mass
ReplyDelete