Tricycle riders dreaded more than Okadas – Expert

Authorities of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), have been urged to beam their searchlight in the direction of tricycle riders, popularly known as keke NAPEP, operating in the Federal Capital territory (FCT) and environs, as their activities appear to have caused road crashes in recent times than their motorcycle counterparts.
Speaking to Blueprint exclusively, the director, Triumph Driving School, Masaka in the neighboring Nasarawa state, Mr.Iraoya Augustus argued that the tricycles most of whom he described as being more dreaded than the popular Okada, have just acquired the knowledge to move the vehicle, not to drive, noting that, their ignorance of road signs and qualities of good driving, has constituted problem to other knowledgeable road users.
He said: “We used to be afraid of the Okada, but these days, they are more dreaded than Okada; you contend with the pedestrians, Okada, other road users and Keke NAPEP.
They ought to be operating in the hinterland, not express way.
“But now that they have come to occupy the expressway, they should be educated; there’s need for enlightenment which will be got through the driving school because most of them, if you ask them about road signs, they won’t know.” Iraoya noted that the major problem the tricycle riders were having was, their inability to acquire the basic rudiments, especially the theory aspect that would mould their life on good driving which includes: smartness, discipline, sense of responsibility, vehicle care, concentration, observation, anticipation, knowledge, courage and good relationship rather than, mere practical knowledge.
“Next week, we are holding a workshop on the causes of road crashes and these are the avenues they are supposed to take advantage to settle down and see some video clips on tragic crashes to avoid rough driving.
“Time is even overdue for government authorities to enforce proper training of tricycle riders so that the rate of accidents will be reduced on our roads; the FRSC should put their eyes on Keke NAPEP before their activities get out of hand”, he said.