LASG signs law to test, jail traffic
Governor Babatunde Fashola
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Lagos
State Governor Babatunde Fashola on Thursday signed the state’s Road
Traffic Law which recommends psychiatric, breath and urine tests, fines
and prison terms, among others for traffic offences.
Fashola, during a short signing ceremony
at the State House, Alausa, Ikeja, said the law was in response to the
growing challenges of road traffic management in the state.
He said while his administration was addressing transportation challenges, the law would complement government’s efforts.
He urged motorists to see the law as a
means to change the state for the better, adding that it would be good
if motorists complied rather than be arrested.
He said, “There are rules like this in
many cities that we have travelled to and we comply. Why is it difficult
to comply at home?
“The deputy governor and I are the only
ones that have immunity from arrest, but we will subject ourselves to
the law because no one will be above this law.
“Those that drive against traffic when
we are on the queue are cheating us and we will not allow such to happen
again. If we cannot reclaim sanity in our society for the coming
generation, I think we have failed.”
Fashola lamented the increase in road accidents due to recklessness of commercial motorcycle operators, popularly called Okada rider. He said their excesses had been addressed in the law.
The governor urged traffic management
agencies in the state to ensure compliance with the law, saying the
purpose of the law must be achieved.
He also warned public officials to comply with the law.
The governor added, “We expect cooperation and we are recruiting lawyers from the private sector to prosecute traffic offences.”
Attorney General and Commissioner for
Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, said the state government would carry out a
comprehensive programme to sensitise the public to ensure that people
did not fall victim of the law due to ignorance.
He explained that the enforcement of the
law would not take effect until it had been gazetted and circulated to
all stakeholders.
The traffic law prohibits motorists from eating as well as making phone calls while driving.
It stipulates a fine of N20,000 for
first offender and a maximum of three years imprisonment or N30,000 fine
or both for subsequent offences.
It restricts okada, carts, wheel barrows
and tricycles from operating in Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ikorodu Road,
Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Agege Motor Road, Funsho Williams Avenue, Eko
Bridge, Third Mainland Bridge, Carter Bridge, Lagos-Badagry Expressway,
Victoria Island-Lekki-Epe Expressway and all bridges in the state.
Okada operators will now operate between
6am and 8pm where permitted in the state. However, motorcycles of
courier companies are exempted with a proviso that they must have engine
capacity of 200cc and must not carry any passenger.
The law also states that trailers will
only be allowed in the state between 9pm and 6am. Fuel tankers and long
vehicles for carrying passenger are, however, exempted.
