By: Audrey Raymonda John
With support from the United Nations Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS), the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) has commenced a four days training at the Sierra Leone Peacekeeping and Law Enforcement Academy (SILEA) for 52 drivers from different UN agencies across the country.
In his keynote address, Director of Training in the SLP, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Kapri Saidu Kamara commonly known as KSK, informed on the increase in mobility due to the introduction of new transportation means, citing the commercial tricycles and bikes.
These new means of transportation added to the existing ones he said have made the need for the use of the roads competitive.
The Director of training reminded the trainees that the UN is highly recognised for which a little mistake by them would be blown out of proportion by other members of the public.
He, therefore, urged them to take the training seriously and always make sure they have an up-to-date driving licence.
Security Adviser UNDSS, Mr Wame Waqanivavalagi, stated that the training was meant to refresh and sharpen their skills, knowledge and attitudes to avoid blame games and be defensive in their driving.
The people of Sierra Leone are members of the UN security council and as such are paying for the purchase of UN vehicles.
He, therefore, called on the drivers to respect the locals and authorities in the execution of their duties.
In his overview of the training, Registrar of SILEA, Superintendent of Police Prince Samuel Macmillan disclosed that the key to the idea of defensive driving is that while driving on the road one might be knowledgeable of the laws, skills and other activities of driving but cannot anticipate same for others, so even in the situation were you are very careful, there are tendencies for an accident to occur.
The training he said is therefore to give the beneficiaries both theoretical and practical guides to help minimise road crashes and to save the UN fleets.
The training he said is structured in three phases including theory, practical and first aid.