The Driving Instructors Association has called for new grounds for their off-road driving lessons so they can move from their present location at the National Sports Council ground at Roche Caïman, which they say are not conducive.

Yesterday the association, led by its chairperson Margaret Banane and the land transport team, carried out an on-site assessment of the state of the area at Roche Caïman, where the instructors have been given permission by the National Sports Council (NSC) to carry out their off-road driving lessons daily.

Speaking to the media, Ms Banane said they have raised several concerns since the creation of the association four years ago, which include the safety of the learners, security at the premises and the condition of the area at Roche Caïman, as well as their working relationship with the NSC.

“We are given new instructions by the NSC on a regular basis on how we have to use the place. On top of that it is not safe for the learners who are faced with other parked vehicles after working hours, for people who are here to carry out their sports activities. They are novice and they are bound to panic when learning the driving techniques such as emergency brakes and this poses a danger to them and the other people using the area, and then we can get into conflict,” explained Ms Banane.

She added that the instructors have to restrict their working hours especially after 5pm, when the place becomes busy.

Ms Banane said these concerns have been raised countless times through meetings with the minister responsible for transport, the principal secretary and road transport commissioner but has not yielded results. The last meeting with the road transport commissioner was back in November last year.

For his part, James Laurence, who has been a driving instructor for the past five years, said the regulations set by the NSC are not favourable to them.

“For example, when they have their activities sometimes the space is inaccessible or we are told not to do our lessons at 4pm as the place is too busy. But this is the time that most learners can follow their lessons. Our license stipulates that we cannot have learners on the main road at 4pm,” exclaimed Mr Laurence.

He also ruled out Persévérance as an alternative venue, as it gets busy at around that time and is dangerous as well since it is a residential area.

The Driving Instructors Association, which has 29 out of the 32 instructors as members, has proposed that the land transport division provides them with a new venue where they could carry out their lessons daily.

Ms Banane has suggested the former Ste Anne jetty, which is presently free.

“It is not in use, it has toilet facilities, parking space and is already fenced, which is ideal for us, as other vehicles would not be admissible. We just need to demarcate the area and ensure it is properly maintained,” she said.

It has also called on its partners, namely the land transport, the police, and NSC to meet up with them for a meeting and to find a long-term solution to the issues raised.

On site yesterday morning was the director general for land transport, Elvis Adrienne, who said the solution was an easy one as the association had only to liaise with the NSC and make their official requests. NSC would in return liaise with the land transport division which could have done the necessary.

According to Mr Adrienne, the Seychelles Land Transport Agency’s (SLTA) main role is to ensure the place has a good coat of tarmac, it is well-maintained and is demarcated for the driving classes. However, this must be done through a formal request by the Driving Instructors Association to the NSC.

“If we have to demarcate the road, we would have done it as well as repair the potholes, until such time that we can actually provide them with an alternative working area. But of course they have to make that formal request for another working ground and submit it to us. It is only then that we can look at their proposals and discuss it,” said Mr Adrienne.

In the meantime, he said it was the instructors’ responsibility to ensure the place was well used to ensure the learners’ safety.

“For example, they are working during the day, they can install the cones and prevent other vehicles from accessing the area, when they are doing the tests. We understand that it is a sports area, but it will help them during the day,” he explained.

The NSC’s public relations and communications officer, Gilly Jean, told Seychelles NATION through a telephone conversation yesterday afternoon that NSC objected to the area being used as an off-road space for driving lessons but it had allowed it since it was not busy during the day. However, since there were more pressing demand, NSC would have to meet with the authorities concerned to find a common solution. NSC said it plans to extend its sporting activities at the premises and would not want these to be affected by any other outside activities.

Source: Seychelles Nation