ROAD SAFETY: Driving in Convoy 

Last week I had the honor to anchor a training programme for a corporate organization whose details I would prefer to keep to myself for now until we conclude the  series of trainings packaged to  tilt the ugly and embarrassing corporate crash trend which they have recorded between January till date this year .The training programme is an all inclusive training meant to raise the driving standard for professional company drivers, workers and most significantly, security and pool drivers whose responsibility is exclusively  convoy driving. We just rounded up and would probably be guest again to another set.

For me, the first set were a delight to behold especially the ones assigned to do convoy who were frank enough to own up that even though they have been on the job for quite some time, most of the things they learnt in the course of the training sounded Latin as they were hearing them for the very first time. My five days experience with these drivers prompted me to take another look at the topic for today. While preparing materials for the piece, I scanned through my archives to see if there were materials on this. While searching, a sense of amusement or would I say relief, dawned on me as I suddenly realized that for some time now, the country has been saved the trauma or would I say the embarrassment of recording multiple road traffic crashes that was the order of the day especially between 2012 and 2014.

Despite the level of sanity that has been achieved in reducing convoy related crashes which is a testimony to the ongoing convoy driving training for top executives, we in the Federal Road Safety Corps are optimistic that with a change in attitude not just among drivers but also among chauffeur driven executives, a significant measure of success will be recorded in our determined strategy to rid our roads of avoidable road traffic crashes. I do hope my new found friends would become polished and save their company and Nigeria the horror of avoidable crashes. Before I share with you a piece I did way back in 2013 at the height of the incessant convoy crashes, let me inform you that my redeployment to Zone 4, Jos, the capital of Plateau State comprising Plateau, Benue and Nassarawa states has opened me up to frequent travels allowing me to see the horror we call driving in our clime.

The greatest tragedy is that common courtesy which is the first and perhaps most important rule of driving safety has become alien as almost everyone on the wheel has become a terror on the highway although there are still some very pleasant Nigerian drivers whose love and compassion even on the wheel is a delight. Besides lacking courtesy, these vehicle movers, according to my Pastor,Pastor  Gbenga Gbadeyan of Rhema Chapel International Churches, Port Harcourt, Rivers State,  can barely stay in their own lane, let alone share the road with other vehicles even if it is an emergency designated vehicle which could be on its way to a hospital with a  road traffic crash patient or on its way to offer rescue services to road crash victims .Some drive at terribly slow speed which is not an offence unless it is inappropriate. This explains why when such drivers are opportuned to become convoy drivers, they become suicidal. It is even worse if the convoy is organized with armed security support.

Before I drift away from my focus, a convoy like any group activity is like a chain and is only as strong as its weakest link. It has its rules  which must at all times be complied with .Some of these rules  threw some of my participating drivers off balance  as they feigned ignorance especially   when we emphasized on pre-trip meeting with drivers which is one of the rules that requires  that  the team goes over the rules and guidelines guiding convoy driving. Wikipedia defines a convoy as a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support. It may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas. 

Convoy driving is different depending on the situation and conditions. It could be in a group of five vehicles or a long convoy of about ten or thirty cars which is best with a police escort –   The rules for a small convoy are different from the rules for a large one and there is the need to adapt depending on the type.

For emphasis, I need to stress here that a convoy is like a whip: The first two cars are like the handle as they control the direction, speed and flow .These two cars will form our focus in this write up even though every vehicle in a convoy is important .Like I said earlier, whether the convoy is organized with armed defensive or used in a non –military sense, giving priority to professionalism and competence is key in achieving success. This why in any convoy, communications is key.  

Communication can be useful during pre-trip and the drive proper. Since we are talking safety, we do not recommend cell phone because of the distraction. Decide at the drivers meeting the channel, route and any possible detour in the event of an emergency. Therefore, knowing the route in vital. It also prepares you for lane changes and your position and where to catch up when you miss out. Murphy’s Law comes to mind here because if it can go wrong, it will.

Without radios… turn signals and hand signals can help, but radios are best. A radio in the lead car and one in the last car is the minimum, especially when negotiating in town traffic.