 |
| A korope showing a deflating front tyre |
Following two separate incidents where drivers of commercial transportation minibuses, popularly called 'Korope' failed to observe safety standard, this reporter decided to write in order to alert the concerned authorities and the public on how some 'Korope' drivers in Osogbo are beginning to endanger the lives of their passengers in Osogbo, Osun state capital.
If adequate safety measures are taken, road accidents can occasionally be avoided. However, when safety regulations are disregarded, avoidable incidents can turn into fatal accidents for drivers and other road users.
In Osogbo, the Osun state capital, 'Korope' is a name given to an eight-seater minibus that is used for public transportation. The minibuses play a major role in the public transport system in Osogbo, as many passengers depend on them for movement from one place to another.
This commercial minibus also helps businessmen and women in conveying their goods from the point of purchase to their shops or warehouses. Korope drivers sometimes are also hired by parents and guardians to convey students and pupils to schools for ease of movement and to avoid the risk that comes with students having to go to school by themselves.
Korope drivers in Osogbo have become a major stakeholder in the transportation sector with the kind of service they render to the public. However, recent happenings suggest that many 'Korope' drivers compromise safety standards in the course of carrying out their normal business, thereby endangering the lives of their passengers.
How 'Korope' drivers compromise safety standard
Few weeks ago, while waiting to catch up with the staff bus to work around GOF Junction, Amiable, a colleague of mine, called my attention to a 'Korope' – a public transport vehicle with a deflating front tyre that stopped to pick up some passengers. I swiftly dipped my hands into my pocket, grabbed my phone, and took a shot of the vehicle.
"This driver is putting the lives of the passengers in danger.
"The driver must have been feeling the effects of the deflating tyre, but he will continue to drive the vehicle around without the passengers knowing, thereby endangering the lives of the passengers," Amiable said.
We both looked at the Korope as some passengers hurriedly entered the bus.
Passengers depend on public transport for their daily commute. When they board a 'Korope', they assume that the driver will prioritise their safety. This is usually not the case with many drivers, particularly those who do 'àgbàwà'. Many of them are only interested in how much they can make for themselves and how much to deliver to the owner of the vehicle – if they aren't the owner.
Driving with a flat tyre is an inconvenience
When a driver operates with flat tyres, he puts every passenger at risk. Driving with flat tyres is not just an inconvenience—it is a serious hazard that endangers lives, damages vehicles, and carries legal consequences.
Recently, this reporter had another experience with a Korope driver. This time, what would have been a fatal accident was averted by God's mercy.
I boarded a Korope going to Akoda together with a few of my colleagues. The driver, an elderly man presumed to be in his 60s, was our driver. Just after passing Sam Ace Pharmaceutical, there was an unusual sound from one of the front tires. The driver wasn't at a high speed, so he managed to control the steering wheel and carefully park the bus by the roadside.
On getting down, we observed that the front tyre on the right side had gone down completely. It simply means the tyre was bad and had been quietly deflating before we entered the Korope. While I was pondering on the possibility of my thoughts, a passenger challenged the driver after seeing the tyre that was about to be used as the extra tyre. The extra tyre obviously wasn't a good replacement. It was terribly bad.
 |
| The driver of the Korope while attempting to replace the flat tyre |
"Baba, this extra tyre is bad. This is not fit for use," a passenger challenged the driver.
"What is not good about the tyre? Do you know how much it costs to get an extra tyre? With #50,000 you might not get a good tyre," the driver responded angrily.
 |
| The flat tyre that was removed from the vehicle |
From the response of the Korope driver, it's apparent that most commercial minibus drivers in Osogbo are compromising safety standards for personal gains. This attitude in the long run will have devastating consequences in the transportation sector if this trend continues.
 |
| Extra tyre |
Public transport drivers must take responsibility for the safety of their passengers and fellow road users by maintaining their vehicles properly. A small act of diligence, such as checking and inflating tyres regularly, can prevent tragic accidents and ensure a safer, more efficient transport system for all.
Passengers must also be alert to question certain practices and abnormalities among Korope drivers whenever they're on the road.
Comments
Post a Comment