Overloaded vehicles and failures of law enforcement

Although the Federal Road Safety Corps Law forbids overloading as it is recognised to be both a safety and cost concern, Lagos motorists have continued to defy the law.
  
Overloading of vehicles, which is rampant mostly at nights when traffic control officers have left the roads, has assumed a more worrisome trend.
 
Residents said no type of vehicles is spared as motorists have become more emboldened by either lack of enforcement or sensitisation.
  
A resident, Adebola Ademuyiwa, expressed worries that overloading thrives despite campaigns mounted by the National Department of Transport to discourage overloading.

 According to him, operators prefer to carry loads in the  afternoon when passengers are few at bus stops. Apart from tricyclists, commercial bus drivers, truck drivers and those operating interstate also carry overload.
   
A driver, who was recently arrested by officers of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), confessed he would continue to get his vehicles overloaded because it is easy for him to ‘settle’ officers.
 
On why motorists overload their vehicles, a motorist, Goodluck Umeh, said economic consideration is a major driver.

“Overloading is a safety hazard that leads to unnecessary loss of life, and also the rapid deterioration of our roads, resulting in increased maintenance and transportation costs.”
   
Reacting to the issue of overloading, Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Filade Olumide, said  the menace  is dangerous to the driver and other road users and is unacceptable.

“It’s a violation of the traffic law and also an abuse of the vehicles involved. Such offenders are liable to be apprehended,” he added.
  
Also, the Lagos State Sector Commander of FRSC,  Olusegun Ogungbemide, said the command has made several arrests  for overloading.