A group, Transport Drivers Healthcare Safety Initiative (TDHCSI) on Thursday, unveiled an Independent Online Manifest (IOM) for the safety of transporters and passengers.
The unveiling was organised by TDHCSI in partnership with the Enugu State Government and Federal Road Safety Corps.
Speaking on the IOM, the Chairman, TDHCSI Mr Solomon Ude said the group created the App to ensure safety of drivers and passengers.
”With this App, we want to ensure that drivers and passengers’ information are digitally captured and uploaded on a system,” he said.
Ude stated that through IOM, the group would reward best drivers nationally and within states as well as best drivers in the company.
“We came up with the online manifest to monitor the activities of drivers on the road through the passengers’ reports.
“Such will put the drivers on the right paths, knowing that they are being monitored by every minute,” Ude said.
Explaining further on the benefit of the IOM, the chairman said it would help the FRSC, security agencies, families, drivers and transport owners in tracing passengers, vehicle and their locations.
According to him, the app reduces risk, traces missing passengers, gives privacy to people’s data and stores passengers’ travelling history up to 50 years.
Earlier in his opening address, the Sector Commander of the FRSC, Joseph Toby said the command was totally in support of the IOM to help eradicate fatality in crashes.
”Our target is to reduce road accident by 15 per cent and passenger’s manifest is not a new thing to travellers but the difference is that this one is digital.
“There is need to patronise it to enhance our productivity in checkmating accidents, kidnapping and other vices on the road,” he said.
Toby said that by clicking on the IOM, road users would be able to access whatever information they warned.
Delivering a lecture on Importance of Driver’s Health and Passengers Manifest, the Superintendent Commander, FRSC, Enugu, Chukwumerije Mbe cautioned drivers on negligence to their physical, emotional and spiritual health.
Mbe advised drivers to avoid driving while experiencing health challenges as such would expose them to road crashes and accidents.
“Avoid driving when your are experiencing health challenges like, depression, Asthmatic, Diabetes, pressure Physical challenges and other emotional trauma.
“Always subject yourself to test if you notice anything before embarking on any journey; All these constitutes risk to passengers,” he said.
He added that most drivers were affected by fatigue, alcoholism, bad sight and drug abuse.
A participant, Mrs Meltida Okonkwo and a former health worker at the National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu advised drivers to always observe the rules and regulations guiding the road.
Okonkwo, however, urged the FRSC to oraginse routine training for drivers and always remind them of the need to safeguard their lives and that of passengers.