INSANITY ON LAGOS HIGHWAY

INSANITY ON LAGOS HIGHWAY published in The Guardian Newspaper.
Thursday, 04 November 2010 00:00 By Charles Okoh
Opinion - Columnists

AN average road user in Lagos State violates traffic laws probably as a result of ignorance or impatience. This lamentable act can be likened to “insanity.” I have not had the opportunity of visiting a dozen countries, but I think Nigeria (with Lagos as focal point) is ranked among the highest in the comity of nations where traffic offences are committed. Both motorists and pedestrians are culpable.

A good number of drivers on our roads were neither trained nor tested by an instructor before they were issued a drivers’ licence. It becomes impossible therefore to expect the best from them on the highway. No wonder they drive at unsafe speed and also ignore road signs as simple as ‘NO PARKING” or “NO U-TURN.” Another disheartening fact is that a typical Lagos driver will readily beat the red light if no vehicle poses a threat and if the traffic officers are not on ground to apprehend him. Again, there is an increasing abuse of pedestrians on a daily basis, motorists hardly give way to pedestrian crossing. In most instances, no sooner will a pedestrian step on the zebra crossing than the approaching vehicle will increase its speed. This will prompt the pedestrian to either retreat or run across the road like an Olympics athlete.

I am not absolving pedestrians; they constitute a nuisance also. Tell me why people in their right senses would decide to cross the highway indiscriminately risking being knocked down by unsuspecting vehicles even when they have an option of using the zebra crossing or pedestrian bridge close by. Does that not amount to insanity? Who is to be blamed – the government or the people? Let’s see if there is a justifiable reason for breaking traffic laws. Lagos State has an unenviable reputation of gridlocked roads. This is evident on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Third Mainland Bridge and Abeokuta Expressway among others. The reason is that there is no effective transportation system to move people around the state en masse. As a result, thousands of private and commercial vehicles take over the highway.Construction and maintenance of roads across the city also hamper the flow of traffic as alternative routes are not always in place. This recurring congestion causes some fretfulness. It turns decent road users into beasts and they resort to breaking the law. But is that justifiable?

In a scenario where one has an interview to attend or a flight to catch and one is stuck endlessly in traffic, should one not react? God be thanked for commercial motorcycles popularly called “Okada.” They serve as alternative in circumventing traffic jams especially when one is in a hurry. I think it is safe to say that hitherto, Okada remains the fastest and most available commercial means of moving from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’ within Lagos metropolis. Do you know the State Government has plans to ban these life-savers?

In my opinion, Okada riders should be left well alone until an effective transportation system is made available. Newton’s law of motion says, “for every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction.” This law applies to our highways. That’s why for every road congestion, there’s almost always an equal and opposite traffic violation. It is laughable to see that some traffic violators (military and paramilitary men, government representatives, traditional rulers etc) go unpunished. In a real sense, should there be a sacred cow?

It is often said that every rule has an exception. Since there are no emergency lanes on our roads, does it mean that ambulances and fire services vans should be exonerated when they obstruct traffic? What about bullion vans and military vehicles manned by some brutal personnel – does the law allow them to blare siren and intimidate other road users? It has been noticed that more often than not, they move at breakneck speed and scare innocent citizens with their guns and horsewhip.

There is a kind of reckless driving that goes on especially at junctions where traffic lights are lacking. It is called ‘Lagos driving’. You could find about 12 lanes of vehicles struggling to narrow down to one or two escape lanes. It is usually a survival of the fittest contest. Cars come in very close contact because everyone is jostling for the available space. In the process, some of them collide and more delay is caused from ensuing arguments.

Road congestion and traffic violation go hand in hand. Over the years, it has caused untold suffering to Lagos residents. Man-hour is lost on a daily basis. People are stuck in traffic until late hours of the night and they are sometimes attacked by hoodlums. There is increased fuel combustion and pollution of the atmosphere. Humans are forced to inhale a mixture of dust and poisonous gases deleterious to health. Vehicles also wear out fast as a result of overuse.

The onus is on government to enforce traffic laws. Except for very special reasons, no offender should go unpunished. There should be no sacred cow. Anyone who violates the law should be brought to book – whether a Governor, an Army General or an obscure pedestrian. Besides the option of a fine, I suggest that violators should be detained for between 30 minutes and 4 hours depending on the magnitude of their offence. And while in custody, they should be given a copy of the Highway Code to digest. Is there a lasting solution to road congestion and the attendant traffic violation? The answer is yes! Lagos Island has a transient population. A good number of its visitors (workers and traders mainly) reside on the mainland. So there is mass exodus to and from work. Government as well as private establishments should create more jobs on Lagos mainland. This would reduce the mass movement of people in one direction. In addition, alternative routes or timing should be provided for heavy-duty trucks especially the ones that ply the infamous Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

During road construction and repairs, temporary passage should be created before-hand to forestall traffic congestion. More traffic officers should be deployed to traffic prone areas to maintain law and order. An individual should be properly trained and tested before he is issued a drivers’ licence, Motorists and pedestrians should be continually enlightened on highway ethics. I must commend the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola. His administration has since begun to make a concerted effort to ease traffic within the city. But more still needs to be done in this regard to satisfy the burgeoning population. Eko o ni baje!

• Okoh lives in Lagos.

Author of this article: By Charles Okoh