Fashola to endorse new Lagos traffic law Thursday.

  By Yetunde Ebosele.

Motorists seek adequate public enlightenment
BARRING last minute change of plans, Governor Babatunde Fashola will on Thursday sign Lagos State’s new traffic bill into law.
The bill, which was sponsored by the Chairman House Committee on Transport, Bisi Yusufu, was passed on July 12, 2012 by the State House of Assembly.
The bill seeks to criminalise traffic offences and sanction offenders as part of strategy to bring under control the chaotic traffic situation within the metropolis.
A source told The Guardian yesterday that the bill is among many functions the Governor is expected to perform on Thursday as scheduled in the manifest.
“The governor may sign the bill into law on Thursday”, the source said.
Meanwhile, more reactions continue to trail the resolve by the Lagos State government to curtail lawless motorists by applying far reaching sanctions.
A cross section of motorists who spoke with The Guardian yesterday commended the various steps taken by the Fashola’s administration to sanitise the chaotic traffic situation in the state.
While calling for adequate enlightenment, some respondents who spoke with The Guardian argued that implementation is the bane of several laws in this part of the world.
For example, a senior driver in one of the prominent transport companies in Lagos, who preferred to remain anonymous, said: “We support the effort of the state government in this regard. My worry is the revenue or financial aspect of the new law. I hope this is not another opportunity for some people to get rich over night”.
He explained that the first thing to do is “educate those who are to enforce the law including the police and staff of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA). The necessary equipment such as vehicles, video cameras and other items must be ready before the new law is allowed to take effect”.
Another motorist, Mr. Muyiwa B. Oloitan, said: “It’s a commendable step. But, how do you prove that I was smoking while driving? I cannot differentiate between fake and original licence. The Lagos state government should embark on an aggressive campaign before the law is effective. Apart from that, more alternatives to driving should be provided.”
Explaining further, Oloitan said numerous motorists within the metropolis are ignorant of the proposed laws, adding that the state government should “carry us along for the law to have its desired effect”.
He added: “I can tell you that most of the offenders especially the commercial motorcyclists and commercial bus drivers are not aware of the proposed law. Their thinking is that as soon as they are apprehended, they will bribe their way through”.
The proposed law stipulates that:
• Riding a motor-cycle against traffic.
• Riding on the kerb, median or road setbacks (Penalty) 1st time offender – N20,000 subsequent offender N30,000 or the rider’s motor-cycle will be impounded.
• One-way driving (Penalty) 3 years jail term after psychiatric examination.
• Smoking while driving (Penalty) N20,000 fine
• Failure to give way to traffic on the left at a roundabout (Penalty) N20,000 fine.
• Disobeying traffic control (Penalty) N20,000
• Violation of route by commercial vehicles (Penalty) N20,000 fine.
• Riding motor-cycle without crash helmet for rider and passenger (Penalty) N20,000 or 3 years imprisonment or both.
• Under-aged person, under 18 years old riding a motorcycle (Penalty) N20,000.
• Driving without valid driver’s licence. (Penalty) Vehicle to be impounded.
• Learner driver without permit (Penalty) N20,000
• Driving with fake number plate (Penalty) 1st offender N20,000 or 6 months imprisonment or both