Mr Abdullahi Mohammed, Vice Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), North East, has urged motorists to ensure they had their driver’s license before plying the roads.
Mohammed told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, in Bauchi, that obtaining a driver’s license qualified one to drive a car on the road.
He said the importance of one’s driver’s license was to notify law enforcement personnel that you had obtained your driver’s license and thus qualified to drive a vehicle in the state, in which you reside.
“You are legally allowed to operate a motor vehicle, without it, you have no right to operate a vehicle on public highways.
“If you are pulled over by a police officer or Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) officer, the first thing that they will ask for is your driver’s license.
“That’s is why we charge motorists to obtain a driver’s license before plying the roads, since the license was a certificate showing you are qualified to drive a vehicle,” Mohammed said
He explained that RTEAN always sensitised motorists on the importance and need to obtain a driver’s license, and that was why the association doesn’t allow drivers without a valid drivers’ license, to load passengers in our motor Parks, it is simply not tolerated at all by our association.
“The association has safety officers, vehicle inspection officers, police, judges and monitoring officers to check the irregularities of motorists”, Mohammed, who also doubles as the Bauchi state Chairman of RTEAN, said.
“The current driver’s license is a universally accepted form of personal identification, because it displays contact information, picture that officials can compare to the person who is presenting it as identification.
“It allows emergency officials to identify you, if you are involved in an accident or badly injured and cannot communicate with first responders.
“They will search your wallet for your driver’s license to identify you and address that will help them locate and contact family members to inform them of your injuries,” Mohammed further said.
He added that the hospital staff could also use the information on your driver’s license to begin the admission process.
The RTEAN vice chairman urged motorists to avoid over speeding during rainfall, as this was dangerous. (NAN)