A driver-training consultant from Bibby Distribution is raising standards and helping to save lives in Tanzania by working with the international development organisation Transaid.
George Nicholl has travelled 7,000 miles from his usual base in Bibby’s distribution centre in Mauchline, Ayshire to the bustling capital Dar es Salaam, to share his expertise with his counterparts from the Tanzania National Institute of Transport.
Nicholl, who has 20 years’ experience in the industry, spent 10 days driving with driving instructors Deogratias Mahuwi, Ernest Mapunda, and Ishmael Singajile, enhancing their training abilities and improving their technical knowledge.
George Nicholl commented, “Driving instructors in Tanzania get little formal training, so by spending time helping them improve their own skills, we have raised teaching standards which in turn could help save lives.” The driver training programme, supported by Bibby Distribution, is an essential part of Transaid’s work in Tanzania, which has the sixth highest road fatality rate in the world.
Duncan Eyre, Managing Director at Bibby Distribution, said, “Transaid’s professional driver training projects fit with our core values of safety, responsibility and giving back to the community. George’s efforts will leave a lasting legacy in Tanzania and empower the trainers he has worked with to make even more of a difference to road safety.”
Caroline Barber, Chief Executive of Transaid, commented, “Drivers shouldn’t leave home for a day’s work in fear they may not come home because of a lack of training, or dangerous vehicles and roads. The support and expertise generously given to us by the team at Bibby Distribution is truly transforming lives in Tanzania and we are so grateful for their partnership.”
Bibby Distribution is one of the founding supporters of Transaid, an organisation set up almost 20 years ago by its patron HRH The Princess Royal to promote safe, accessible and sustainable transport.
