The Nation Newspaper

Tag: traffic offenders

  • ‘Jail term for traffic offenders will reduce road crashes’

    A Senior Lecturer in the Department of Transport and Geography, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, Prof. Kayode Oyesiku, has advocated for the introduction of jail term into the traffic penalty code to reduce crashes.

    According to him, motorists would continue to disobey traffic rules unless the penalty code is amended.

    The don spoke at the first quarter retreat of the Ogun State Sector Command of FRSC in Abeokuta. The retreat was themed: “FRSC international conventions and agreements: implication and preparedness”.

    Prof. Oyesiku noted that the ugly trend would continue unless government empowers the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) by amending road traffic penalty code and introducing jail term for offenders.

    Read also: Two die, 10 injured on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway accident

    He blamed the government for the poor implementation of all that should make the roads safe, and appealed to the government to focus more on providing road infrastructures to stem incessant road crashes.

    The Ogun Sector Commander, Clement Oladele, said the retreat was organised to review their previous operations and chat new ways of improving service delivery.

    He urged road users to cooperate with the Corps by abiding with traffic rules to stem incessant road crashes, saying majority of crashes are caused by human errors which are avoidable if motorists obey traffic rules.

  • Ogun goes tough on traffic offenders

    Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) has declared a total war against the traffic offenders across the state.

    It has apprehended no fewer than 91 motorcycles and dispatched traders displaying their goods on the roads causing obstructions mainly in Abeokuta,  the state capital, in an operation tagged: “Task Force Special Operation.”

    The operation focused on clearing road obstructions for free flow of traffic to ensure that sanity return back to the roads during and after the Easter celebration.

    The offenders were apprehended at Panseke, Ibara under Bridge, Omida, Sapon, MTD Ibara and Iyana Mortuary for offences ranging from non-usage of helmets,  driving against traffic, disobedience to traffic lights and signs and road obstructions.

    While addressing reporters after the flag-off of the exercise, the TRACE Commander Olaseni Ogunyemi, said disobedience of traffic rules by road users is the major cause of incessant crashes adding that the agency would not relent in its public enlightenment campaign and enforcement until habitual attitude of road users towards the bad usage of roads is curbed.

    He said the operation would be a continuous exercise during the Easter celebration and beyond, adding that the corps had deployed its officers to major roads within the state for full enforcement of traffic laws during the festive period.

    He said the TRACE would have zero tolerance for indiscipline on the part of road users, saying anyone caught disobeying traffic rules and regulations would be forced to undergo psychiatric evaluation tests and prosecuted.

  • FCT to go after vandals, scavengers, traffic offenders

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Security Committee has resolved to go after vandals, scavengers and traffic offenders.

    The committee also resolved that the vandalisation of public utilities in the FCT must be stopped , urging the security agents to clamp down on vandals.

    The committee noted that most of the traffic lights in the Abuja metropolis hadbeen vandalised, which led to signal failure in interchanges.

    The committee added that most street lights, especially those at the outskirts of the city, had been vandalised and warned that all perpetrators would be tracked down to face prosecution.

    FCT Minister Malam Muhammad Bello appreciated the support the FCT Administration has been enjoying from the FCT Security Community and called for closer collaboration this year.

    According to a statement by the  Deputy Director / Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Sule, the minister said  the FCT Administration would give serious attention to the problems of traffic offenders, illegal activities of commercial motorcyclists, vandalisation of public utilities, restricting of Keke NAPEP to designated areas.

    He said abandoned and uncompleted buildings across the Federal Capital City would be properly monitored.

    The minister urged their owners to take proper possession as they would be held responsible for any security breach in such places.

    Bello also directed the security agents to also restrict the activities of scavengers to dump sites and arrest any of them found roaming around the city.

    He announced that the FCT Judiciary has already assigned five Magistrates who are expected to man five Mobile Courts to deal with all these problems.

    According to him, the Mobile Courts had been brought in for immediate dispensation of justice and appropriate penalty to serve as a deterrent.

    The minister added that arrested commercial sex workers would be taken to the rehabilitation centre in Lugbe for skill acquisition.

    Bello also directed the FCT Police Commissioner and the FCT Director of DSS to immediately meet with the graded traditional rulers in FCT as well as the chairmen of the six area councils to strengthen collaboration and fine-tune ways of getting useful intelligence from the grassroots.

    He advised the residents of the Federal Capital Territory to pass any useful information on any security situation to the relevant security agencies nearest to them as well as traditional and community leaders.

  • Task Force convicts 159 traffic offenders

    •Agency gets vehicles, motorbikes 

    Lagos State Mobile Courts have convicted 159 persons for road traffic offences.

    The courts also impounded nine vehicles.

    Among the convicts were private motorists, 30 commercial bus drivers, 10 tricyclists and four motorcyclists.

    Of the impounded vehicles, five are private cars, two commercial buses, one tricycle and one motorcycle.

    According to the agency’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Taofiq Adebayo, the offenders were arrested in Ikeja, Ikorodu, Ikoyi, Fagba, Mainland, Ikorodu Road and Pen-Cinema areas.

    Magistrates Nurudeen Layeni, Patrick Nwaka, Lekan Aka-Bashorun, Lateef Owolabi and Tosin Ojuromi, he said, handled the cases.

    “The impounded vehicles, he said, were convicted for contravening the one-way provision in Section 7 (b) of the Lagos State Traffic Laws of 2012, adding that all the motorists were convicted for contravening Schedule (1) item 45 and Schedule (1) item 32 of the law by causing traffic obstructions, parking and picking passengers illegally,  illegal parking on kerbs/walkways etc.”

    According to him, one of the convicted traffic offenders, who owns a Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) after paying N10,000 fine, said he was ignorant of the law against parking on kerbs/walkways.

    Adebayo claimed that a convicted commercial driver, whose Volkwagen bus marked AKD 930 BL was impounded, said it was the greatest mistake of his life to have taken one-way.

    The Lagos State government has donated vehicles and motorcycles to the task force to boost its operations.

    The Task Force chairman Saheed Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said the agency would enforce the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012 and Lagos State Environmental Laws.

    He said the mobile courts’ operations would be strengthened to cover more areas.

  • Lagos taskforce convicts 159 traffic offenders in seven days

    Lagos taskforce convicts 159 traffic offenders in seven days

    The Lagos State Mobile Courts sitting across the State in the last seven days has convicted 159 arrested road traffic offenders and impounded 9 vehicles for driving against traffic (one-way).

    Of this number 115 convicted traffic offenders were private car owners/drivers, while others were 30 commercial buses, 10 tricycles and 4 motorcycles for plying restricted routes and causing obstruction on major highways across the State.

    Those 9 impounded vehicles includes 5 private cars, 2 commercial buses, one tricycle and one motorcycle.

    These figures were reeled out to the press by the Public Relation Officer (PRO) of the Agency, Adebayo Taofiq.

    According to him, the traffic offenders were arrested around Ikeja, Ikorodu, Ikoyi, Fagbaa, Mainland, Ikorodu Road and Pen-Cinema.

    “5 mobile courts magistrates who presided over charges and convicted these arrested traffic offenders were Magistrate Nurudeen Layeni, Magistrate Patrick Nwaka, Magistrate Lekan Aka-Bashorun, Magistrate Lateef Owolabi and Magistrate Tosin Ojuromi.

    “While 9 impounded vehicles were convicted to have contravened Section 7 (b) of the Lagos State Traffic Laws of 2012 by driving against upcoming vehicles (one-way) other 159 traffic offenders were all convicted to have contravened Scheduled  (1) item 45 and Scheduled  (1) item 32 of same law by causing traffic obstructions, parking and picking of passengers at illegal parks,  illegal parking on kerbs/walkways etc”, he said.

    According to him, one of the convicted traffic offenders, Mr Fatai Garuba who owns a Lexus Jeep (KRD 505 CX) after paying a fine of N10, 000 to the government said that he was ignorant of the Law that says parking of a vehicle on kerb/walkways is an offence in the State.

    While another convicted commercial driver Mr Ganiyu Isiaka (AKD 930 BL) whose Volkwagen bus was among those impounded vehicles said it was the greatest mistake in his life to have driven against oncoming vehicles (one-way).

    Isiaka who further said it was the devil that convinced him however pleaded for forgiveness as a first offender according to the law.

    Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has donated Ford security/operational vehicles with motorbikes to the Lagos State Task Force to further boosts its security operations across the State.

    SP Saheed Olayinka Egbeyemi Chairman Lagos State Task Force while receiving these donated vehicles and motorbikes on behalf of the Agency thanked the Lagos State Government particularly His Excellency, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode for making security of lives and properties of people in the State most crucial to his government.

    He stated that the Agency is more battle ready in enforcing both the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012 and Lagos State Environmental Laws across the State.

    The Chairman confirmed further that operations of the Lagos State Mobile Courts would be strengthened to cover more areas across the State.

    He however warned both private and commercial bus owners and drivers including tricyclists and motorcyclists to desist from contravening the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012 particularly driving against oncoming vehicles (one-way) which will lead to direct forfeiture of any vehicle to the government with no options of fine according to the Law.

  • Reps, Fashola seek stiffer penalties for traffic offenders

    Reps, Fashola seek stiffer penalties for traffic offenders

    The House of Representatives may adopt the Lagos model for traffic offences, it was learnt yesterday.

    Following the presentation of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, at a public hearing on road safety and driving schools,  the  lawmakers  expressed their readiness to  opt for stiffer penalties for traffic offenders.

    Chairman, House Committee on Road Safety Commission, Yunusa Abubakar, said Nigerians must change their attitude towards road safety.

    He said the bill, sponsored by Adams Jagaba, is proposing a N20,000 fine for driving with one or no headlights and for refusing to use a nearby pedestrian bridge.

    Hawking on the pedestrian bridge and its precincts attracts a fine of N25,000, for violating traffic lights, you pay N60,000, driving on walkway attracts a fine of N50,000, while for hitting a pedestrian at zebra crossing, you pay N50,000.

    Fashola said legislation should be creative and daring with penalties to achieve the objectives of safer roads for Nigerians.

    Saying options of jail and fines ought not to be overemphasised, the ex-Lagos governor proposed that penalties should tilt more towards correction and deterrence.

    “Jail terms and fines do not necessarily serve as a deterrence or correct offenders, Fashola said, adding that they  should be made to suffer some inconvenience, as adopted in Lagos State Traffic Laws.

    “The magistrate can sentence them to community service, such as cutting grass in public, and they will be on video, and can even be on TV.

    “Road users who refuse to use pedestrian bridges where they are available, should be punished as they endanger themselves and others.

    “Penalties seem to focus on custodial and pecuniary which have existed for a while and have not caused a reduction. Perhaps parliament can be a little more daring,” he said.

    For maximum effect, the minister said re-training and re-certification of drivers must be prioritised by the authorities.

    “The reason is simple, where would the FRSC ever get the capacity to do it, maintain a driving school in each local government?

    “An automobile is not a toy, it is a machine, and you must be trained to use it. But we have neglected the training part, now almost anyone can get into a car, shuffle a few things, and get onto the highway.

    “Only people who know how to drive should be behind the wheel,” he said

    Responding, Abubakar said the committee would look into the Lagos model and explore the most suitable option for safer Nigerian roads.

     

  • Yuletide: FRSC arrests 143 traffic offenders in Edo

    Yuletide: FRSC arrests 143 traffic offenders in Edo

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Edo State has arrested 143 motorists for various road traffic offences during its ongoing Yuletide Special Patrols in the state.

    The Edo Sector Commander of the Corps, Mr. Oluwasusi Familoni, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin that the road traffic violators were prosecuted in three different mobile courts at Uromi, the Benin/Shagamu Highway Toll Gate and Ekewuan Road.

    “Among the 143 offenders arrested, 125 of them were convicted, while 18 of them were discharged,” he said.

    “The major offences were operating vehicles with fake documents and seat belt violations.

    “We have planned to hold six mobile courts sittings in the state during the yuletide special patrols to checkmate the activities of motorists as they ply the roads this festive period,” he said.

    The sector commander, however, cautioned motorists to desist from driving under the influence of alcohol, saying, “It is dangerous and predisposes motorists to accidents.”

     

  • Ambode arrests traffic offenders

    Ambode arrests traffic offenders

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Wednesday arrested motorists, tricyclists and motorcyclists driving against traffic in Ijora Olopa area of the state.

    This is in line with the commitment of the Governor Ambode-led administration to ensure law and order in the state. which was driving from Lagos Island en-route Carter Bridge to Ikeja, also

    Ambode’s convoy accosted some other traffic offenders on Apogbon Bridge, in breach of the State Road Traffic Law.

    The Governor arrested a black Toyota Corolla with registration number AKD 911 DC, a yellow Mitsubishi taxi with registration number YE 819 KJA, a black Toyota Camry with registration number KRD 666 DK and a metallic coloured Lexus SUV with registration number LSR 995 BT, among others.

    Similarly, Governor Ambode arrested a three commercial buses with registration numbers LSD 824 XC, BDG 242 XQ, and JJJ 126 SC as well as a truck labelled Gafista Concepts Limited and a private PSP operator with the Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) with registration number BDG708 XJ.

    Further, the state governor arrested a white Toyota Hilux belonging to the Lagos State Water Corporation.

    The offenders confessed that they drove against the traffic and breaching the law, explaining that they were tempted due to the heavy traffic gridlock.

  • Ambode’s convoy arrests traffic offenders

    Ambode’s convoy arrests traffic offenders

    In line with the commitment of his administration to ensure law and order in the state, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Wednesday apprehended motorists, tricyclist and motorcyclists driving against traffic in Ijora Olopa area of the state in breach of the State Road Traffic Law.

    The Governor’s convoy, which was driving from Lagos Island en-route Carter Bridge to Ikeja, also accosted some other motorists who committed the traffic offence on Apogbon Bridge.

    Among the vehicles arrested include a black Toyota Camry with registration number KRD 666 DK; metallic coloured Lexus SUV with registration number LSR  995 BT; black Toyota Corolla with registration number AKD 911 DC; and yellow Mitsubishi taxi with registration number YE 819 KJA.

    Other vehicles arrested included commercial buses with registration numbers BDG 242 XQ, JJJ 126 SC, LSD 824 XC and truck belonging to Gafista Concepts Limited, a private PSP operator with the Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA). The truck was with registration number BDG708 XJ.

    A white Toyota Hilux belonging to the Lagos State Water Corporation was also arrested.

    While being questioned by journalists in Lagos House Ikeja, the offenders admitted to driving against the traffic and breaching the law, explaining that they were forced to pass one way due to traffic gridlock.

    Sunday Izebor, a commercial motorcyclist from Edo State, said he was arrested while passing one way, and explained that it was not in his nature to do so, but was forced to commit the traffic offense due to heavy traffic.

    The driver of the PSP truck, Ogunwale Segun admitted that he drives against traffic to navigate the road on a daily basis.

    He said: “I wanted to park refuse in Ijora when I was arrested. The LAWMA road was blocked so I had to pass one way and that was what made me to be caught otherwise I would not have been arrested.”

    On her part, a lady who identified herself as Adejoke Elemoro said she passed through one way because she was in a hurry to catch up with a meeting scheduled for 7am in her office with a customer.

    “I passed one way this morning when I was arrested. It is not that I did it intentionally but it was the naval officers in the area that directed me to pass one way. I left my house around 6am to catch up with the meeting and I had to pass one way because we have been facing serious traffic on that route since three months, and if not that, I will not meet up with my appointment,” she said.

    Also, an interstate commercial bus driver, Ganiru Ayakunle said he committed the traffic offence because of his passengers who were rushing to  catch up with urgent appointments.

    A commercial tricyclist, Akinlabi Ahmed, who attacked a security detail of the Governor while attempting to arrest him, said he knew that by his action, he had run fowl of the laws of Lagos State.

    Akinlabi, who hails from Oyo State, said Wednesday was the first time he would be committing such traffic offence.

    The offenders have since been handed over to the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences for prosecution.

  • Booking of traffic offenders begins

    Booking of traffic offenders begins

    A new era in traffic management has begun in Lagos State. The Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Friday introduced the booking of offender as advocated by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    In the past, erring motorists were arrested and their vehicles impounded.

    But, booking allows the offending drivers to go with their vehicles.  They are expected to pay their fines and answer other charges within seven days.

    Four vehicles which violated the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane were arrested when the new traffic control regime began in Ojota.

    The Vehicles included two commercial buses marked AGL  109 XA and JJJ 7775 XJ, a black Honda – FST 914AX belonging to one Nike Elegbede and a blue Toyota Camry car marked EJ 54 KIJ driven by one Adamu Danladi. The car owners provides valid vehicle documents on the spot, but the commercial bus drivers could not.

    [ad id=”403656″]LASTMA General Manager Bashir Braimah, who led his men to the field, said the exercise was in line with the governor’s directive.

    Braimah said there would be no hiding place for traffic violators as they are expected to pay their fine within seven days and present their tickets at LASTMA offices.

    Offender, he said, would be arrested if they did not pay after the expiration of the seven day grace.

    “To those without valid documents or not registered in the state, there is a working synergy between the agency and other sister agencies across the federation, therefore no traffic offender will go unpunished. It’s in their own interest to either fall in or fall out with this new method,” he said.

    Braimah said the state is gradually turning into a traffic bottleneck because of the excesses of motorists, particularly commercial and truck drivers, who, he said, were fond of flouting traffic rules.

    According to him, LASTMA can’t fold its hands and allow impunity to continue on Lagos roads, hence the enforcement.

    Danladi claimed that he was directed by his boss to ply the BRT lane, thinking that there is no more enforcement in the state.