To help reduce motor vehicle collisions as the leading cause of death and injury in the country, there is the need for drivers to participate in Defensive Driving Training programmes, Technical Manager of TopTech Transport, Anthony Anlimah, has said.
As part of their routine, TopTech took some drivers from the Church of Pentecost through a 3-day Defensive Driving Training programme on how to manipulate their vehicles in harsh conditions.
The programme, which begun on July 25, 2018 and ended today, was to help employees of the Church take control over their cars and be safe on the roads.
“Defensive driving training has become essential because most of us are purchasing vehicles, very expensive but if you do not know how to manipulate some of the components on the vehicles it tends to cost you more to run these vehicles,” Anthony Anlimah said.
Participants were lectured on a two-day theoretical session on topics such as Factors and Causes of Road Accidents and the Way Forward, Gear Transmission System – Manual and Auto, Vehicle Maintenance and Safety Culture, Vehicle Fire Fighting Procedures, Vehicle Tyre Management, and Drive Fatigue Management.
The final four-wheel driving upgrade, which was essentially on the practical aspect of the programme, included Off Road Driving in Rough, Hilly and Bushy Terrains as well as Driving in Sandy and Wet Terrains.
The drivers were made to drive 2000 ft above sea level at Ayi-Mensah which was the training grounds.
Participants took turns individually to drive up and descend a rocky and steep path.
Training continued at the beach where the drivers were taught how to drive and take precaution when they ply on sandy and wet landscapes.
Explaining why vehicle maintenance is importance, Mr Anlimah said owners tend to spend more when they do not take care of their auto mobiles. He adviced that drivers, aside training every now and then must do well to read manuals especially to ensure a long life span for the car.
According to him, “Vehicle maintenance is one of the most important and expensive venture because first of all once you own a car it means you have to get the car running. For you to get the car running it’s going to cost you some money. Then it goes on to you not being able to use something very well on the vehicle and then it adds on to making vehicle ownership so expensive.”
“So once you own a vehicle, it’s very important to go through a training like that to be able to use your vehicle very well and more safely,” the technical expert added.