Road Safety Fight Is A Moral Imperative, Osiyemi Tells Lagos Driving Schools At LASDRI Yearly Conference
OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos
The Lagos State Government has charged driving school proprietors and instructors to embrace continuous professional training and make road safety a central component of driver education, declaring that the fight against road traffic crashes is a moral responsibility.
Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Honourable Oluwaseun Osiyemi, gave the charge on Thursday at the 2026 Annual Train-the-Trainers Programme for Driving School Proprietors and Instructors, organised by the Lagos State Drivers Institute (LASDRI) under the theme, “Enhancing Road Safety Through Continuous Training and Education of Driving School Operators in Lagos State.”
Osiyemi said driving schools had a critical role to play in reducing crashes by equipping motorists with the skills, knowledge and attitudes required for safe and responsible driving.
He stressed that road safety education must go beyond obtaining a driver’s licence, urging the state to maintain strict instructor certification, standardised curricula, rigorous testing, background checks and periodic professional development.
“The war for road safety is not a luxury; it is a moral imperative,” Osiyemi said, noting that every life lost or person injured in a road crash represented a tragedy and a collective scar on society.
He called for continuous updates in driver training to cover defensive driving, hazard perception, modern vehicle technology, changing traffic regulations and practical safety skills.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Maroof Musa, reinforced the importance of driving schools, saying poor driving attitudes were a significant contributor to traffic congestion and road safety challenges in Lagos.
According to him, motorists often develop bad habits from the beginning of their driving careers, making driving schools the first line of intervention.
“You are not merely running businesses. You are part of the system that ensures that the wheels of the Lagos economy remain well-oiled,” Musa told the operators.
He disclosed that the state was reforming its driver’s licence infrastructure to make renewals more convenient and improve access to services, while also planning the deployment of an artificial intelligence-powered driving simulator to modernise driver testing and assessment.
The General Manager of LASDRI, Mrs. Afusat Tiamiyu, said the institute’s annual refresher programme was designed to bring driving school owners and instructors back to the classroom to update their knowledge and adapt to technological developments in the driving profession.
She, however, warned operators against compromising standards by issuing certificates to people who had not undergone proper training.
Tiamiyu said LASDRI would continue road safety advocacy at motor parks and garages and conduct specialised training for truck and tanker drivers. She also announced that the institute’s annual Ember Months safety campaign would commence on September 1 in collaboration with LASTMA, Vehicle Inspection Service and other relevant agencies.
The Lagos State Police Command, represented by ACP Ajanaku Ibrahim, urged motorists to drive defensively and avoid speeding, dangerous overtaking, distracted driving, substance abuse and road rage.
He reminded drivers that driving was not merely an occupation but a public responsibility involving the safety of passengers and other road users.
Meanwhile, Guinness Nigeria PLC reaffirmed its partnership with LASDRI for the second consecutive year. Its Corporate Relations Director, Mr. Rotimi Odushola, said the collaboration was driven by a shared commitment to road safety and responsible driving.
Odushola urged driving schools to inculcate the message that “you don’t drink and drive”, stressing that responsible consumption must accompany the company’s business activities.
He said Guinness considered LASDRI’s intervention important because driver education addressed road safety from the root by shaping the habits of new motorists.
The Vehicle Inspection Service General Manager, Mr. Akin George-Fashola, also pledged continued institutional support for LASDRI and disclosed that driving schools were expected to benefit from the state’s forthcoming driver’s licence programme.
The stakeholders agreed that sustained training, professional standards, responsible driving and stronger collaboration among government agencies, driving schools and the private sector were essential to building a safer and more efficient transportation system in Lagos.
