By Kehinde Ayanboade
Transport business is one of the money spinning ventures all over the world and it requires decent operations and smooth relations with the passengers, drivers are expected to possess certain level of driving etiquette but reverse is the case in Ibadan, the state capital of Oyo state as drivers of a portable serviceable vehicle, ‘Toyota Micra drivers ’ are not only rootless with the car, they care less about the safety of their passengers hence driving recklessly
Micra came into the system in Ibadan sometimes in 2010, and it was embraced by people because it is neater and faster than the ramshackle buses that have dominated the transport business then . Although the government of Otunba Alao Akala introduces Suzuki product of almost the same size with Micra but the government car is not as strong as Micra which is also more affordable by people
What makes micra more popular and useful for transport is the fuel economy and cheap maintenance. It doesn’t consume fuel like other cars being used for transport but carries the same number of people that other roomy car can carry , packing people like sardines in the car
The ineffectiveness of the enforcer of trafiic law in the country also gave the more strength to do ““anyhow” on the road once they knew the solution is just to drop some amount of money
It is very hard to see Micra without 3 people driving it in a day ,someone will drive early morning like 5:30 am- 12, another will take over from 12-5 while the last man will drive from 5-10 or thereabout and each of them must make money hence resolving to reckless driving
Investigation reveals that most of the micra drivers graduated from motorcyclists to car drivers, they don’t don’ts care about the rule once they car navigate their ways .
Below are 6 attributes of the Ibadan Micra drivers according to a report by National Insight News;
They have no Regard for Traffic Laws and Regulations
Transport business is one of the thriving business that gives instant money, most of the drivers of Micra are optional illiterate when it comes to traffic law , they drives against traffic, care less about drivers of other vehicles on the road and their nonchalant attitude has resulted into accidents which has claimed many lives and render many useless
Their Vehicles Are Faulty And Not Road Worthy
To many passengers, most of the Micra are not road worthy, their desperation to make money by all means make them to ignore warning signals and that is why you see than developing fault suddenly on motion causing traffic congestion. When you see a micra car check properly majority of them either have a broken wind screen or mirror, no better seat, damaged bumper, no full light, damaged dash board, no side glass roller.
Incompetent Drivers Of Mediocre Standard
Most of the Micra drivers are not worthy to be called drivers, they don’ pass through proper driving test let alone having license. Like I said in the introduction, most of them just saw driving Micra as an opportunity to make instant money, once they can press Tuttle and clutch to make the car move, everything is set, their attitude and utterances on the wheel makes them look like a psychiatric patient
.Lack of Vehicle Documents and License: Micra drivers in Ibadan don’t have correct vehicle documents and driver’s license, and most of those that has drives around with expired papers and licenses and that is one of the reasons why the usually dodge security agencies and vehicle inspection office and those that cannot escape bribed their way through
.Desperate To Source Income: more than one driver depends on one vehicle to make money on daily basis, anyone used to commercial transportation in Ibadan will know that Micra driver do shifting. The call to make sizeable amount of money by each driver force them to be in haste. They park and pass through unassigned route and most times run into accident trouble.
Smoking And Consumption Of Alcohol (Intoxicants): Micra drivers in Ibadan are known to engage in smoking of cigarette and Indian hemp, they also take local gins (ogogoro) and alcohol which makes them semi – mentally upright to drive a car on major motorable roads.
Poor Moral Etiquette/Manners : Most Ibadan Micra drivers lack manners, they are fond of abusing passengers , they make use of vulgar and foul languages to communicate with people. This effect sometimes results in assaults and exchanging of blows between drivers and passengers, the masses stereotypically believes that anyone who engages in commercial transportation is of poor upbringing and bad behaviour.
In conclusion, the behavior pattern attached to Micra drivers in Ibadan is an indictment on the part of the state Vehicles Inspection officers , Federal Road Safety corps FRSC and other relevant agencies who have not been playing active role in ensuring strict compliance to traffic rules and road worthiness .
