The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), on Wednesday, said it had set up a health task force to check drivers’ fitness at various parks before they embark on journeys ahead of the Yuletide season.
Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, the Lagos Chapter Chairman of the NURTW, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that it had been observed that most drivers do not find time to check their health status.
According to him, as business activities on the road increase, the union is interested in reducing the cases of road fatalities by ensuring only healthy drivers are on the road and carry passengers.
“We want our members alive and healthy as Yuletide season approaches, and that’s the reason why we advise them to embrace health checks organised by the union at various parks.
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“The union has set up health task force to check drivers at various parks before embarking on journeys.
“We also enjoin all members to key into the health check also provided by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) during campaigns.
“We are in the season of our business which makes drivers to always be on the road; our health is paramount to reduce road accidents.
“We don’t want to lose lives in road crashes, that is why our members must check their health status. It is when a driver is fit that he can drive safely,” Agbede said.
He said that some drivers have eye problems and do not use glasses, while others have blood pressure issues and other ailments.
Agbede said, “Our health task force includes qualified medical personnel from notable hospitals and also FRSC officers who check for drunken drivers with breathalysers.
“Any driver that is not fit health wise will not be allowed to be on the road.
“It is only the living that celebrate; we do not want the carelessness of one person to send many to the grave.
“Our passengers are the reason we are on the road and the reason we are called a union, we are very passionate about their safety,” the NURTW chairman said.
Agbede appealed to commuters to correct drivers whose style of driving they found unsatisfactory in a polite manner. (NAN)
