As the yuletide season approaches, a critical stakeholder in road transport business and Rivers state Chairman of Association of Certified Driving Schools Owners of Nigeria (ACDSON), Mr Nduka Ejoh, has called on motorists especially commercial drivers to strictly adhere to traffic rules and regulations while on the wheel.

Ejoh, who is the team leader of ACE Centre Driving School, who spoke through his operations manager, Mr Fuayefika Tamunokuro, made the called in a chat with our correspondent in his office in Port Harcourt, Monday.

He cautioned that drivers should avoid the temptation of over-loading, over-speeding as well fatigue, as the period always experiences influx of families and commuters travelling to the country-side to join their loved ones.

According to him, drivers should not use the period to make extra money for themselves by over-speeding to make more trips at the expense of his passengers, because such would and endangered the lives and properties of other road users.

The ACE centre boss also cautioned against consumption at alcohol as part of the festival before embarking on any journey as such would influence his sense of judgement, adding that they should ensure that their vehicles are in perfect condition with appropriate tyres lighting system, and proper use of seat belts at all times.

Ejoh further warned that drivers should look out for road conditions for safe arrival to their destinations as well as inoculants the attitude of journey management plans for regular stops at approved motor parts for a few minutes rest to avoid fatigue which had been one of the major causes of accidents during this period.

He, however, called on the government and other relevant authorities to organise a town hall meeting for drivers at various motor parks to further enlighten and inform the drivers on the need for safe driving and safety at lives and properties at commuters.

The stakeholders also cautioned commuters not to patronise road side transporters as some of them could be fake transporters as well as unpainted vehicles with ‘one-chance’ fraudsters and avoid night journeys it possible in case of vehicle breakdown in the middle of nowhere.

He, however, called on the government to partner with private organisations like ACE centre driving school to regulate activities of drivers on the roads and other road users because safety of motoring public is sacrosanct, wishing all drivers safe and defensive drivers to the destinations this season.