LASTMA AND THE NEW TRAFFIC LAW

Lastma, Lagos State

It is now a public knowledge that a new traffic law is in place in Lagos state. According to Gov. Babatunde Fashola, this is to checkmate the bad attitudes of migrants from across the federation and and beyound who drive indifferently and also reduce the frequent road accidents being experienced in Lagos state.  Report reaching us from Lagos state teaching hospitals, ( LASUTH,) stated that  722 accidents were reported, comprising 568 males and
154 females between January  and July this year. Then at the Toll Gate Trauma Centre, 254 accidents, which resulted in 35 deaths, were recorded during the same period. Fifty per cent of the cases were caused by okada riders, 27 per cent of the victims were passengers and 23 per cent pedestrians. Signing this bill into law is noble of course and motorists will have to have a rethink before hitting the roads with their vehicles. The essence is to uphold the vision of making  Lagos state a mega city as envisaged in the administration's blue print. Below are the laws:

a. Ban on operations of commercial motorcycles and tricycles on major bridges, Ikorodu Road, Funsho Williams Avenue, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos-Badagry Expressway and Lekki-Epe Expressway.

1st time offender – N20,000 subsequent offender N30,000 or the rider’s motor-cycle will be impounded.

b.  One-way driving (Penalty) 3 years jail term after psychiatric examination.

c. Smoking while driving (Penalty) N20,000 fine

d.  Failure to give way to traffic on the left at a roundabout (Penalty) N20,000 fine.

e.  Disobeying traffic control (Penalty) N20,000

f. Violation of route by commercial vehicles (Penalty) N20,000 fine.

g. Riding motor-cycle without crash helmet for rider and passenger (Penalty) N20,000 or 3 years imprisonment or both.

h. Under-aged person, under 18 years old riding a motorcycle (Penalty) N20,000.

i. Driving without valid driver’s licence. (Penalty) Vehicle to be impounded.

j.Learner driver without permit (Penalty) N20,000

k. Driving with fake number plate (Penalty) 1st offender N20,000 or 6 months imprisonment or both.

According to the document, trailers, with the exemption of fuel tankers and long passenger trucks are now prohibited from entering into or travelling within the metropolis from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. It is pertinent to note that LASTMA has been empowered by this new law to carry out breathylizers on motorists to confirm whether or not any driver is under the influence of alcohol.This device will measure the amount of alcohol in Breath.

All these are welcome developements seeing that so many lives have been lost due to frequent road accidents occasioned by trailer accident especially those that carry containers from Apapa area of lagos to their destinations. On so many occssions, trailers carrying 40ft containers have fallen down while on transit thereby leaving other road users at the mercy of only God knows.  Not only that, many Lagosian leave their houses as early as 4am and get back home as late a 12am or beyound. The causes most of the times are not far fetched. Trucks break down at random thereby blocking access for other road users to pass through or road obstruction by commercial motorists.  People sometimes trek a very long distance in order to get home.

In fact, the law is holistic and if employed to the letter, will make Lagos a memorable place of abode. Nevertheless, we have seen in this country that good policies often times turn to bad policies in the course of implementation by our law enforcement agencies because of their mindless infliction on pains on victims. What am I trying to point out. LASTMA which is a Lagos state governement executive arm will take advantage of this law to further frustrate Lagosians. Some of them who have not bought Landed property will do so because the job has appeared to be much more lucrative than ever. Those who have 2-5 autos will add more to the fleet they are operating. The number of buses they have for commercial purposes will expand. Just look at the tommy of a typical LASTMA official. It is always a pot belly showing that they have no iota of regret in their career even though they stand to be bitten by the sun. They are always on duty even when they were supposed to be  off-duty. Once a LASTMA official needs money, he (dominantly males) will just pick his clothes from where he has dumped it and quickly rush to the road in a bid to catch motorist even those that do not commit any offence. Sometimes, they inercept innocent motorist forcing the victim to part with some amount of money with minimum as N5,000. We all know that vehicles are man-made and are bound to breakdown without notice. It is regrettable to note that LASTMA officials seldom offer helps to people whose vehicles have broken down on the road. At least they should be ready to help and push broken down vehicles away from the road to avoid obstruction but they will rather resort to making unnecessary calls to their associates that an opportunity has arisen to make cash. I think there should be re-orientation in the system if there is none before now at least to have some elements of human feeling and sympathy whenever on duty.

Finally, mixed feeling will accompany this new traffic law. Nigerians have been known to be impatient while on transit. While it is good that we have good laws in place, Lagosian should be ready to brace up for the attendant effects. Apply patience today, apply patience tommorrow so that you will not fall victim of this new law.