Sustainable Traffic Management: OYRTMA Partner Stakeholders in South-West to Ensure Effective Inter & Intra State Traffic Management

In sequel to it transitionary drive towards sustainable traffic management, the Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority (OYRTMA) has begun high-level collaborations and partnership with relevant stakeholders towards ensuring sustained road safety, free vehicular movements and crash-free travel experience across all roads within and beyond Oyo State territory.

This was as the Authority, alongside her counterparts in Lagos and Ogun States, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) respectively attended a training/ capacity building workshop organized by Bovas & Company Limited for drivers of articulated trucks and trailers.

During the event, which was held in Ibadan, the Executive Chairman, OYRTMA, Mogaji Akin Fagbemi Ph.D reeled out the mandate, vision and mission statements of the Authority to include ensuring safety of all road users in Oyo State and minimizing road traffic crashes and travel time through effective, efficient and sustainable traffic management strategies.

Mogaji Akin Fagbemi who was ably represented at the program by Mr. Adeoye Kola Ayoade, the General Manager, OYRTMA, Dr. Fagbemi harped on the need for good interpersonal relationship between truck drivers and road traffic officials whilst also explaining the interpretation of various road signs, symbols, markings and regulations as well as the need to obeying them at all times.

“You will agree that one of the most important hard skills a driver should possess is to consistently obey traffic laws and following laid down safety rules and regulations. This is because driving can be a potentially dangerous activity and great caution is usually needed when operating vehicles especially the heavy-duty ones”, Fagbemi said.

Speaking further, the OYRTMA boss explained to participants how to know a good driver. According to him, “a good driver must always execute routine maintenance, take care of the vehicle and always put other road users into consideration.

“A good driver must know the rules and signals as applicable to their routes.

“He must be well acquainted with automobile systems and drive according to manufacturer’s instructions. Last but not the least, a good driver must respond to emergency situations appropriately by reaching out for help either from colleague drivers or escalating such maters to the nearest Traffic Management Agencies or as the case may be, the Police.

“When the vehicle drivers do all this and we on our part as policy drivers do our jobs, we shall achieve a sustainable traffic management model that other States and even nations would love to emulate”, Fagbemi said.

Recall that OYRTMA recently announced her readiness to transition beyond it initial community traffic management model to a more sustainable traffic management initiative in-line with the Governor Seyi Makinde’s Sustainable Development Agenda for Oyo State, 2023-2027.