signed the Lagos State Road Traffic Bill into law.
The governor assented to the bill at a ceremony attended by members of
the executive council, top officials of the police and those of other
traffic management agencies.
Fashola said the new law was a holistic review of the state's traffic
law of 2003, adding that it was designed to ensure safety on the
roads.
He said that the growth of Lagos into a mega city with large migration
into the state had resulted in traffic congestion, saying that the new
law was one of government`s strategies to manage the situation.
"This new law is also the state government`s intervention to the
alarmingstatistics of road accidents, especially those caused by
reckless driving and activities of commercial motorcyclists.
"From records at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital
(LASUTH), 722accidents were reported, comprising 568 males and 154
females between Januaryt and July this year.
"At our 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.
"These are alarming figures and we cannotafford to allow this to
continue, hence our intervention with this law. " he said.
Fashola sought residents' voluntary compliance with the law,
emphasising its real objective was to improve the traffic situation
rather than putting people in jail.
He pledged that his government would strictly implement the law,
assuring that offenders would be given fair hearing and would be
accorded the right to defend themselves during prosecution.
Mr Ade Ipaye, Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, said the
law sought to promote the life expectancy of residents as it would
significantly reduce congestion.
Ipaye added that the law would address the safety and security issues
associated with operations of commercial motorcyclists and illegal use
of vehicles in the state.
He said the law would not be implemented immediately, adding that a
lot of public enlightenment would be carried out while copies
distributed to residents.
The new law clearly spelt's out what now constituted traffic offences
in the state, as well as the penalty each attracted.
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.
Violators risk impoundment of their vehicles and payment of N50,000
fine or six months imprisonment.
Another salient provision of the law is the prohibition of eating,
counting money, making phone calls and engaging in other dangerous
activities while driving, prescribing a fine of N30,000 for violators.
Other highlights included the 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.
It also compelled commercial bus drivers and their conductors to wear
identification tags while property owners are also compelled to report
cases of abandoned vehicles in their vicinity or risk punishment.
Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) are
empowered to administer breathylizers on drivers to detect their
drunkenness while owners of commercial vehicles are compelled to
obtain operating licences from government. (NAN)
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