I thought I share with you the new Lagos State Traffic Laws as many people don't know its exact content. Read below:
"Any driver in Lagos State caught smoking while driving will now be made to pay N20,000 as fine in the new traffic law recently passed by the state House of Assembly.
The bill, which is for a law to repeal the old traffic law and enact a new one as well as make provisions for road traffic and vehicle inspection in the state, has been forwarded to the office of Governor Babatunde Fashola for his assent.
The new traffic law also stipulates that driving against traffic, popularly known as one way driving, now attracts a three-year jail term, while a first offender gets one year term and the vehicle forfeited to the state government.
Bullion vans are also not exempted from the law as any bullion van driving in a direction prohibited by the road traffic law would be forfeited to the state government.
Owners of vehicles abandoned on highways in the state would now face three years jail term or a fine of N50,000 In some cases, the vehicle owner could face both fine and imprisonment.
The bill, which emanated from the executive arm and aimed at regulating vehicular movement, also has inputs from stakeholders who made contributions at a public hearing concerning the bill.
According to Schedule 1 Section 2 of the traffic offences and penalties, motorcycle riders who go against traffic or ride on kerb, median or road setbacks would be fined N20,000 if they are first offenders, but for subsequent offenders, they would be fined N30,000 or the motor-cycle would be impounded.
In the law, failure to give way to traffic on the left at a roundabout attracts N20,000, disobeying traffic control will attract N20,000, and violation of instruction on routes by commercial vehicles will attract N20,000.
Riding motorcycles without crash helmet for rider and passenger will attract N20,000 or three years imprisonment or both.
The law also prohibits under-aged person from riding motorcycles as they would be fined N20,000 if caught.
Operating a motorcycle in a restricted area or on prohibited routes will now attract N20,000 or the motorcycle could be impounded.
Schedule II, Section 4 prohibits motorcycles and tricycles from plying major highways in Lagos.
The highways are
- Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
- Apapa-Oshodi
- Oworonshoki-Lagos
- Ikorodu, Lagos-Abeokuta
- Babangida Boulevard Way
- Eti-Osa-Lekki-Epe Expressway
- Funsho Williams Avenue
- Agege Motor Road
- Eti-Osa-Lekki Coastal Road
Learner drivers without permit will be fined N20,000 and driving with fake number plate attracts N20,000 for first offenders, six months imprisonment or both"
Here's my opinion on these laws:
1. I think the law became effective way too early. It could have been passed and made effective after say 3 months, giving residents time to adapt.
2. I think some of the punishments are too harsh.
3. Roads that are one way should be clearly signed. Many of the current one way roads do not even have any major markings to show that it is one way. The LSG must mark all one way roads clearly.
4. If the law enforcement agencies are not in tune with this laws, it will just be another way to increase corruption in our system. President Goodluck and the Acting IG of Police, recently banned police check points to not only curtail the criminal activities of thieves, it was also to checkmate corruption in the system. Now tell me would most people rather give a police man or lastma 10,000 on the spot or risk paying 20,000 and spending almost a day getting clear or even going to jail. The problem is our officers have not been sensitized enough not to take it.
5. On a lighter, more sympathetic note, Is the LSG not sympathetic to the sufferings of Okada riders who have this riding as their only means of livelihood or to commuters in Lagos who escape traffic with Okada
