Edo to introduce bye-laws to check recklessness among drivers

By Jethro Ibileke

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo has disclosed that the State Government will introduce bye-laws and other measures to check recklessness among drivers.

This is even as no fewer than 1,200 drivers arrested for serious traffic offences have been trained on the proper use of the road by the State Government.

Obaseki disclosed this after inspecting facilities of the Edo State Traffic Control and Management Agency (EDSTMA), including the Drivers Training Academy and Manpower Development Centre.

According to him, “Traffic is a major issue for us in the city. We are working very hard with experts on what to do to ease traffic congestion in the state. The leading causes of traffic congestion are unwholesome practices among drivers, particularly commercial drivers and people who refuse to obey traffic signs.

“I am here to make sure that we put in place facilities to train and apprehend defaulters, and see how well equipped the traffic agency is and to understand their challenges.”

The Governor disclosed that in the next few weeks, apart from amending a few bye-laws, the State Government is going to take measures to curb the sort of recklessness that we see with drivers in the city.

“We are going to have a magistrate court to secure convictions, and ensure that people comply with the law,” he said.

Earlier, the Managing Director of EDSTMA, Mr. Dennis Oloriegbe, disclosed that the Agency has trained over 1,200 drivers, comprising drivers apprehended for serious traffic offences and others within the civil service at the academy.