10th June, 2014
The Lagos Traffic Law was passed in 2012 to regulate the activities of motorists in the state. However, while the law has effectively worked in some instances including the ban on commercial motorcycles in the state, it cannot be said to have made any impact on the restriction of truck drivers to certain hours of the day.
Before the law was given assent by the state Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, the state witnessed a high rate of accidents, almost recording an average of three incidents daily. Though the accident rate in the state has reduced considerably, it has remained a major road challenge caused by reckless truck drivers and calls for government’s urgent intervention.
The killing of Adebola, son of former Governor Rasheed Ladoja of Oyo State by the driver of an articulated vehicle , a DAF truck with registration number JJJ 59 XA on the victim’s way to the Lagos Island area of Lagos State is the most recent of such incidents. Adebola, who was alone in a Volkswagen Golf saloon car with registration number AKD 107 CJ on the fateful afternoon, lost his life when the speeding truck driver, Justice Osaghai, lost control of the vehicle, skidded off his lane into the opposite lane and rammed his truck into Adebola’s car.
In November 2013, eight people were killed in an accident involving a tipper belonging to the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Church. The incident also reportedly caused injury to 11 others as the truck was said to have run into bystanders at the Oshodi Motor Park at 11.30 a.m. on the fateful day.
Many times, residents of the state have had cause to call on the government to save them from these reckless truck drivers, especially as their activities during the day amount to road traffic offence. Besides, some of the trucks are not road worthy and pose grave danger to other road users.
The law, as passed by the State House of Assembly restricts the movement of trucks to between 9pm and 6am. This means that they are not to be seen during the day, a measure aimed at easing traffic congestion and reducing accidents. Unfortunately, what happens is that officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, and the police authorised to implement the law, often look the other way while the truck drivers hold other motorists to ransom on the roads. These officials are only concerned with car owners and commuter bus drivers.
Last year, the state Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, announced that the state was going into another phase of the implementation of the law. In February this year also, Governor Fashola read the riot act to truck drivers and owners following the spate of road crashes caused by the truck drivers in the state. Yet, the trucks have continued to wreak havoc.
The government must, therefore, summon the will to reduce these avoidable deaths on our roads by implementing the law 100 percent. Leaving these truck drivers to continue with their nuisance on the roads would endanger the lives and property the government ought to protect.