The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has appealed to motorcycle riders, most especially commercial operators, to observe safety regulations by using crash helmets to mitigate head damage during crashes.

The Secretary of the union in Kwara, Mr Nurudeen Olabisi, told newsmen on Saturday in Ilorin that helmets were designed to protect users.

“The use of helmets is for the safety of road users, especially the ‘okada’ riders and their passengers,” Olabisi said.

The secretary, who harped on the relevance of helmets, debunked erroneous claims that they were meant to prey on users for kidnapping or for rituals.

“There is a rule to the use of crash helmets, but people like to take laws into their hands and joke with it.

“We have had meetings with KWARTMA to enforce the use of crash helmets, but it is unfortunate that commuters think the use of crash helmets is used to perpetrate evil such as kidnapping and rituals.

“Most passengers don’t want to use it that is why it looks as if enforcement is a bit lighter these days, but we made it compulsory for our members.

“So, I want to use this opportunity to tell the public and road users to obey traffic rules and especially bike riders to use their helmets, it is for their own safety.

“Accidents can happen anytime and when you disobey the law and enforcement agencies arrest you, you will bear the brunt,” he said.

Olabisi said that the issue of insecurity is every where and not particular to Nigeria, thereby stressing the need for maximum security from the police.

He, however, sued for prayers, saying “we need to pray, because it is only God that can protect us,” said he scribe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NAN