LAGOS TRAFFIC LAW ; PENALTIES ,DUTIES OF LASTMA OFFICIALS

Compliment of the season and happy new year in advance blog visitors, how is the preparation like,hope our clothes are in our various wardrobes. Let us remember that as we are working hard to get money to buy our clothes so are some corrupt law enforcement officers are doing same ,so let us try our best to avoid what will affect our pockets this season and beyond.

I was driving yesterday in Lagos, south west Nigeria so I beat the traffic light, this was not intentional but because I was driving bumper to bumper with one of the Nigerian Breweries   distribution truck, I did not see that the light has stopped me, The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority officer stopped me and before I could explain myself he asked for my driver’s license , I asked him if  checking of driver’s license is part of his duties, he simply said madam go because of the child in your car.

So what are the limits, duties and penalties prescribed under the Lagos Traffic Law which was signed into law in August year 2012.

A lot of people have expressed concern about the new traffic law, there are several opinions for and against the law but we should bear in mind that law is a dormant piece of paper which will not jump on an innocent person neither will it come to the house looking for anyone, it is man that is always looking for it.

The major reason behind this law is to restore decency in the way of lives of people living in Lagos and change for better. If the law is strictly adhered to, Lagos will change for better.

Highlights of Lagos traffic law as follows;

Driving against traffic is one year imprisonment for a first time offender and three years in case of a repeated offender.

Carrying of a pregnant woman and a child below age i2 on okada is three years imprisonment.

Bullion vans driven in a direction prohibited by road traffic law will be forfeited, abandoned vehicles on highway will be fined N50, 000 or three years imprisonment or both.

Another salient provision of the law is the prohibition of eating, counting, making phone calls and engaging in other dangerous activity while driving, prescribes a fine of N30, 000 to violators.

Smoking while driving will attract N20, 000

Disobeying traffic control and failure to give way on the left at round about will attract N20,000

Any person driving without a valid driving license will have his /her vehicle impounded.

Learners without permit will attract a fine of N20,000.

Where vehicle is abandoned on a highway or near private premises, police or task force authorized to remove to a park, owners of adjourning properties should report to the nearest police station, failure to do so may be N25,000 fine.

The law is no respecter of anyone, let us do our best to obey all traffic laws both state and federal laws.

Eko o ni baje o!

Thank you

Oyenike Alliyu-Adebiyi LLB(hons)BL