Gov Fashola bans phone use while driving

It is an offence to use the telephone while driving in Lagos – courtesy of a new law signed yesterday by Governor Babatunde Fashola.

The Lagos State Road Traffic Law restricts
movement of commercial motorcycles (aka Okada) and articulated vehicles.

Okada operators are barred from major streets in the nation’s business and financial capital. Articulated vehicles, except those carrying petrol, are precluded from moving between 6.a.m and 9.p.m.

  

Commercial vehicles are also barred from unauthorised picking and dropping of passengers. Selling of alcohol and spirits at motor parks are outlawed.

Fashola said the law will make citizens live better as it will make the road safer for them, improve their life expectancy and solve their environmental and public health issues.

Apparently to underscore the importance of the law, its signing took place at the Banquet Hall, Ikeja House, to accommodate the large turnout. Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Chief Judge Ayoola Philips, members of the Executive Council and enforcement agencies were there.

Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General Ade Ipaye listed the provisions in the law, among which is the prohibition of motorists from eating and making phone calls while driving.

He said the law also stipulates that where no specific penalty is specified, a fine of N20,000 for first offender and N30,000 for subsequent offences or maximum of three years imprisonment or both subsequently for offenders.

 It bars motorcycles, popularly called Okada, carts, wheel barrows and tricycles on specific routes, including the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Ikorodu Road, Agege Motor Road, Funsho Williams Avenue, Eko Bridge, Third Mainland Bridge, Carter Bridge, Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Victoria Island-Lekki-Epe Expressway and all bridges.

Where permitted, commercial motocyclist can only operate between 6am and 8pm. Motorcycles of courier companies are exempted -  on the provision that they must have an engine capacity of 200cc, carry prescribed number plates and identification, be fitted with proper  mail cabin and must not carry any passenger.

The law also restricts the movement of trailers within the metropolis from 6am to 9pm. Fuel tankers and long vehicles for carrying passengers are exempted.

Defaulting trailers will be impounded and offenders will pay N50, 000 fine or imprisonment for six months.

Fashola described the law as the government’s response to the growing challenge of road and traffic management and the need to ensure that those who choose the state as home are not shortchanged by regular traffic offenders.

He said his administration was committed to addressing transportation challenges, adding that the law, which took about 18 months to prepare, would complement government’s efforts in providing adequate road signs, traffic lamps as well as a traffic radio.

The Governor urged motorists to comply with the law, adding that its success will be defined more by the voluntary compliance of motorists and road users rather than in the number of arrests traffic management officers make daily.

Fashola said: “There are rules that operate in many cities that compare with this state. We have been to many of these cities and we comply, why is it difficult to comply at home? Our lives will be better if we comply with this law.

“The deputy governor and I are the only ones that have immunity from arrest, but we would subject ourselves to the law because no one will be above this law.

 “Those who are ready to live with the realities and the complexities of our state are welcome and those who can’t should stay away. Those that drive against traffic when we queue are cheating us and we will not allow such to happen again. If we cannot reclaim back our sane society for the coming generation, I think we have failed.”

He lamented the increase in road accidents, saying that 722 cases of accidents on okada were recorded at the State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja between January and July.

“Of this number, 568 were male and 154 were female. At the accident and emergency centre at Toll Gate, 252 accidents were recorded from January to July, out of which 35 persons died. 50 per cent of the victims were okada riders, 27 per cent were passengers on okada while 23 per cent were passersby.”

The Governor also charged traffic management agencies in the state to ensure motorists comply with the law saying that all hands must be on deck to ensure that the purpose of the law is achieved.

The law specifies penalties for driving unregistered, unlicensed vehicles or vehicles without valid identification marks, an offence which attracts a penalty of N20, 000 for first offenders and N30.000 or three years imprisonment or both for subsequent offences.

Any trailer contravening the law - restricted movement between 6am to 9pm - will be impounded and N50.000 fine imposed or imprisonment for six month for the driver.

 According to the law, it is henceforth an offence to sell alcoholic drinks, herbal or pharmaceutical drugs within 100 metres of a bus stop, terminus or motor park; hawk, vend or offer for sale any item of goods or services or beg or solicit for alms or engage in cleaning windscreens or any part of a vehicle on the highway or bridge. Other offences include displaying of wares on walkways, dropping or picking of passengers on fast lanes or undesignated bus-stop by commercial vehicles.

 The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) is empowered by the law to designate as bus lanes for priority service, a side of Ikotun-Ejigbo-Cele Expressway,  Iyana-Ipaja-Agege, Pen Cinema, Ojodu -Berger; Iyana-Ipaja-Idimu-Iyana-Iba Roundabout, Iyana-Idimu-Ikotun, Berger-3rd Mainland-Tafawa Balewa Square, Iyana-Oworo-Anthony-Oshodi-Mile 2-Apapa, Sango-Iyana-Ipaja-Oshodi and Orile Iganmu-Mile 2- Okokomaiko roads, during peak hours of 6.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.