Road crashes and loss of precious lives. Role of all stakeholders (1)
The rate at which road crashes are claiming lives in this country is so alarming and worrying that stakeholders in the road transport industry need to take a critical look at it and find a solution to this carnage.
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Although the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) is doing a lot to minimise road crashes, its effort is not meeting the desired result. What then is the problem? Why should precious lives be lost this way?
Inasmuch as good roads and roadworthy vehicles are key to safe and comfortable driving, the driver factor is very crucial in curbing road accidents. By extension, the transport managers as well as station masters have a big role to play, since they recruit and supervise drivers.
It is an undeniable fact that due diligence is not done in recruiting drivers by most transport operators and organisations; the result is the recruitment of mediocrity.
I am speaking from experience as a former transport manager of a reputable company in this country. As part of my schedule, I interviewed and recruited drivers for many years and have met drivers from equally reputable organisations with many years of driving experience. But the output from most of these drivers left much to be desired when they appeared before the panel.
It is in this vein that I am focusing on the transport manager and station master who manage the drivers.
It is a fact that private individuals buy commercial vehicle and give them to drivers of their choice regardless of the competence of the driver involved and impose them on station masters.
But this is where masters at the station need to stand on their grounds and reject or accept such drivers based on their assessment of their performance.
‘Whom you know’ syndrome
In the corporate organisations, the ‘whom you know’ syndrome and jobs for friends and family members compromise the recruitment of well-qualified and competent people.
When drivers have been selected or recruited, no matter how competent and qualified they are, they have to be monitored regularly and particularly if they are long journey drivers.
Their health status is very important. We have heard of occasions where drivers have collapsed while driving and in some cases died on the steering wheel. What was their health status before they embarked on the journey? That’s very important.
Other things transport managers and station masters should look out for in drivers before embarking on a journey include their emotional/mental alertness.