The June 6 Lagos auto crash, which claimed at least one life and paralysed traffic for most of that day, was absolutely avoidable
It was distinctly Nigerian: so avoidable, yet so tragic! On June 6, in Ikeja, Lagos, a container-bearing articulated trailer crushed a meat van, and one Samuel Ogunnaike, a work-bound innocent citizen. Unconfirmed reports claim the driver of the crushed meat van died later at the hospital. May God receive the souls of the dead; and comfort the distraught they left behind.
This tragedy was needless, from the accounts of eye witnesses. It all reportedly started with the police in hot chase of a recalcitrant Okada (commercial bike) rider, in brazen violation of the Lagos State Road Traffic Law of 2012, which restricts Okada from plying that category of roads, the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, near the Ile Zik Bus Stop, at Ikeja.
The meat van reportedly slowed down to avoid running over the fleeing Okada rider, who clearly was driving against the traffic. The trailer, in high speed, and hooting in panic, swerved so as not to hit the meat van, only to disgorge its container, thus flattering the van. But for the fact that Kayode Opeifa, Lagos State Cmmissioner for Transport confirmed that the container was strapped to the truck’s flat bed, perhaps the accident could have claimed more lives.
Why an Okada man would flout the law can only be explained by the mass culture of impunity that has seized the land. Even with that, how the police proceed to curb this impunity, with more emotive brainlessness, beggars belief. If the police had been more scientific and less emotional, the accident, and the resulting traffic gridlock, could have been averted.
Though the police had, as always, denied being party to the disaster, it is open secret that the eye witnesses’ testimonies are credible, as they ring true of the police normal operational behaviour. The police should reform their ways, instead of lapsing into comical denials anytime they create untold havoc, in a bid to enforce the law. The police in hot chase of Okada, against the traffic on an expressway, should never be an option.
That said, the government should support the police with adequate infrastructure. A case has been made for mounted cameras to record traffic infractions. But such a system needs biometric information of road users, such that whoever broke traffic laws, whether or not the police were there, paid the price. The government should work towards such scientific ways of curbing traffic offences.
Such a system could be futuristic, yes. But not so the rigorous enforcement of regulations. The truck involved in this accident had its container strapped. That cannot be said for most of the trailers plying our roads. The general attitude is that strapping is optional, because it attracts more costs. That should not be an option. Authorities must ensure every container-bearing truck on our roads has its cargo strapped. That would reduce, if not completely eliminate, containers falling off, and sending hapless citizens to early graves.
Besides, it is a big scandal that far too many container-bearing trailers, and even auto-petrol tankers, ply our roads. That is a direct result of the failure of the rail system. The government should therefore more vigorously address building a modern rail system.
Back to enforcing laws. By the Lagos Traffic Law of 2012, the trailer involved in the accident was not supposed to be on the road at daytime. Is the government not enforcing this part of the law?
But beyond laws and enforcement, there is urgent need for mass enlightenment of truck drivers and allied personnel. As a group, they appear to be a disgruntled lot who don’t seem to care about their lives; and even care less about the lives of other road users.
A deliberate and systematic enlightenment campaign should be put in place to better train them and curb their suicidal tendencies.
