The National Freight Haulers Association (NFHA) has urged drivers to avoid night-driving especially during Christmas and New Year celebrations to prevent road crashes
The National President of the association, Chief Jackson Bent, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.
Bent spoke to NAN after an NFHA executive committee meeting to assess the performance of the association in 2016.
He said that the advice became necessary in view of the increased rate of road accidents during festive periods.
He stressed the need for the drivers to rest adequately before embarking on long journeys, adding that they should be at alert at all times.
“Night driving is riskier due to poor visibility.
“Drivers should not be in a hurry to drive at night; they should find a place where they can rest at night so that they can proceed on their journey by daybreak.
“Night journey over the world has been a nightmarish experience; it is very easy for drivers to doze while driving at night, and when that happens, an accident can occur.
“It is not that they can’t doze in the daytime, but the chances are more at night,’’ he said.
The NFHA president applauded he Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for efforts at ensuring safety of motorists and commuters on highways.
“I sometimes wonder what the rate of road accidents would have been in this country if we didn’t have FRSC.
“FRSC officials have done well in checking the excesses of drivers, particularly drivers of articulated vehicles,’’ he stated.
Commenting on the 2017 Budget recently presented to a joint session of the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari, Bent said that the budget would give hope to Nigerians.
“I think there is light at the end of the tunnel.
“The only thing is that sometimes we make income projections but end up not getting them, then, we suffer for it.
“However, I think we should be optimistic. If the president is so optimistic to the extent that he said recession would vanish in 2017, we too should be,’’ he said
Bent gave the assurance that in 2017, the association would re-position for optimum performance.
He told NAN that NFHA would strengthen relations with other associations and work in line with government policies and programmes to enable it to take its rightful place in the country.
He said that the association could generate much income for the country, if well-organised.
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