Traffic Laws: Between Road Signs And Ignorance

EVEN strangers can drive in Washington DC or in Reno, Nevada; Florida, Wisconsin and other major cities of the United States (US) without headache, not only because of the wideness and smoothness of the roads, but also because the roads are adorned with road signs, traffic lights at designated places.

On the contrary, virtually all the major cities in Nigeria have poorly organised road signs. Most of the traffic lights are not working in their locations. In Lagos worn-out and dilapidated road signs make driving difficult even on most of the major highways, especially on the mainland.

Worst still, the law enforcement agents are always not there on time to control the traffic. Some people are often arrested for driving against the traffic ignorantly, because of inadequate road or traffic signs.

The new Lagos State Traffic Law is a welcome development to most officials of the commercial transport union executive members in Lagos, but they unanimously agreed that government must put in place the enabling environment for the traffic laws to work effectively.

Mr. Dandan Ikusalami, one of the leaders of Petroleum Tankers Association, Mobil Road, Apapa said that the road signs are very important for the new traffic laws to be effective.

“We don’t have enough road signs on our roads. We need more traffic signs. How do you impound a vehicle of a person driving against traffic without road sign?”

“Let the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officials enlighten those who are collecting driver’s license on how to use the road signs. It will bring sanity on our roads. It is called the highway code.”

He added that the road signs should be boldly written at designated areas.

“The members of our association don’t take one way. Those driving trucks don’t take one way. Tankers are always parked near a depot or where they want to carry load.”

He disclosed that traffic is usually caused by the small vehicle drivers, who are always in a hurry, and so, “The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) should help to bring sanity on our roads.”

He urged the tanker drivers to obey the new traffic laws for law and order to reign on our roads.

The Secretary of Lagos State Taxi Drivers and Cab Operators Association, Oshodi Taxi Park II, Mr. Mumini Bilawu said that road signs will assist the government to implement the new traffic laws and it will make driving easy for motorists.

He said that road signs are very important on our roads. “It will serve as a guide for the drivers. Some motorists are coming to Lagos for the first time, without the road signs they can drive against traffic. Road signs will help motorists to stop at designated bus stops. It will also help them to know the right lane to take.”

“For instance, if you are going to Fatai Atere Way from Oshodi, you keep to the right. All the road signs ought to be there for easy driving.”

Bilawu regretted that some of the road signs that used to be on the roads are now defaced or no longer exist. “Look at the Third Mainland Bridge; most of the road signs are still there. That is how it ought be on all our roads.”

He said that where there are no pedestrian bridges, zebra crossing signs ought to be there. “Like the ones they put on the roads on Lagos Island. It ought to be everywhere, so that motorists can slow down when approaching such places, for the pedestrians to cross.”

“Taxi drivers understand the signs. It was part of our training. Once they can put the signs at strategic places there will be no problem.”

One of the officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Ojodu Branch said that Lagos is a very busy city.

“If there are no adequate laws to control the traffic in Lagos, there will be serious congestion and chaos on our roads. Businesses will always suffer. Imagine several productive hours lost to unnecessarily gridlocks during peak hours everyday!”

He described the new traffic laws as a welcome idea, adding that there is the need for the government to build more pedestrian bridges to ease traffic in Lagos.

“For example, Ijaiye is a densely populated area. Unfortunately, they don’t have a pedestrian bridge. People crossing the road also add to the traffic gridlocks in that area. Many people have been sent to early graves, others are either maimed or seriously wounded, receiving treatment in the hospital.”

He noted the fact that Lagos State promulgated the traffic laws during Fashola’s administration.

“The government is now trying to enforce it through the introduction of mobile courts. To be effective there should be designated bus stop signs so that vehicles trying to pick or drop passengers will know the right place to do so.”

He regretted that “most of the one way road signs have been removed by some law enforcement officials, so that motorists will enter their traps ignorantly.”

He said the new mobile courts should handle the cases as they come. “Deal with both government and commercial or public drivers equally, without taking sides.”

One of the executive members of Okada Riders (commercial motorcycles) Association, Ojodu, Steven Ifedi, said that some of the Okada riders are aware of the new traffic laws.

“During Fashola’s administration, copies of the traffic laws were made available to everybody. They shared it to each unit. We have not seen the new traffic laws. We heard that when you take one way, you would be arrested. Let them distribute copies of the new traffic laws to Okada riders as well. Many of our members can read and write.”

Ifedi reiterated that there ought to be road signs on our roads. “This area is an Okada route but task force people do come here to arrest us. Road signs will check the excesses of the law enforcement agents.”

Jamiu Ramonu, one of the officials of NURTW, Ikotun-Cele Expressway, said that although he was not aware of the new Lagos traffic laws, lack of proper road signs from Cele Bus Stop to Ikotun is giving the motorists serious concern.

“The law enforcement agents are always impounding our vehicles for stopping by the road side. Yet, there are no designated road signs for motorists to know the lawful bus stops. They used to tow our vehicles to their stations and they will ask us to pay N80, 000 to recover them.”

He urged the government to embark on massive sensitisation programme to spread the message of the new traffic laws to NURTW members in the state, adding that after putting in place the enabling infrastructure, anybody who flouts the traffic rules would have his or herself to blame.

At Jakande-Isolo round about, the chairman of Tricycles Association, Jakande-Cele Expressway, Mr. Sakiru Ogunwale also described the new traffic laws as imperative to control the traffic in Lagos. “But LASTMA officials need more enlightenment about how to implement the traffic laws. Most of them don’t know the difference between first offender and recalcitrant and obstinate drivers. They treat everybody equally. They are always looking for reasons to arrest tricycle owners.”

He regretted that there is always chaos at the Jakande roundabout due to the absence of traffic light and road signs to control the traffic.

“There is always confusion as everybody wants to go at the same time. The traffic wardens are always not around to control the traffic,” he said.