The Zonal Chairman of Zone 4, Ojo, under the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Nurudeen Eniafe, has officially launched a new book titled 'Drivers' Reckless Behaviour on Highway.' The launch event took place in Lagos earlier this week.
Purpose of the Book
Eniafe stated that the book aims to tackle the growing menace of dangerous driving and road accidents across Nigeria. He explained that the inspiration came from daily tragedies witnessed within the transport sector, where reckless driving continues to claim lives and destroy families.
According to him, transport operators and vehicle owners regularly encounter fatal crashes that leave devastating consequences for victims and society at large. “We see accidents every day. Accidents have cut short the lives of many people, including future leaders and breadwinners of families,” he said.
Content and Approach
Eniafe, who holds a Master’s degree in Transport Planning, explained that the book combines academic knowledge with practical field experience gathered from years in the transport industry. The publication draws from the experiences of transport practitioners, accident victims and families affected by road crashes.
He emphasized: “The price of reckless driving is too costly. When a man dies in an accident, the family suffers. Children may no longer go to school, homes are destroyed, and some young people may eventually become criminals because of hardship.”
Call for Defensive Driving
The transport union leader stressed that the book was written to encourage motorists to embrace defensive driving, patience and respect for traffic regulations in order to save lives and property. He lamented that many drivers on Nigerian roads lacked basic understanding of road signs and safety ethics, a situation he described as dangerous.
Eniafe referenced a recent accident involving associates of Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua, blaming reckless parking and careless driving habits for avoidable deaths that also damaged Nigeria’s image internationally.
Recommendations
He called for the introduction of road safety education into school curricula and driving school training programmes nationwide. According to him, the book would serve as a manual for both professional drivers and ordinary road users.
Eniafe disclosed that his transport zone had already partnered with the Lagos State University School of Transport to organise leadership and behavioural training for drivers operating on Lagos roads. He also urged passengers to pay closer attention to vehicle condition and driver behaviour before boarding commercial buses.
He expressed optimism that collaboration with transport ministries, driving schools and regulatory agencies would help promote a safer driving culture and reduce road accidents across the country.
