Lagos State House of Assembly has passed a bill for a law to repeal
and re-enact the road traffic law and to make provisions for road
traffic and vehicle inspection in Lagos into law for Governor Babatunde
Fashola’s assent.
The new amended traffic law which was passed last Thursday,
stipulates that driving in a direction prohibited by the road traffic
law, that is driving against traffic, popularly known as one way driving
now attracts a 3-year jail term, while a first offender gets one year
term and the vehicle forfeited to the state government.
Also, bullion vans are not exempted from the law as any bullion van
driven in a direction prohibited by the road traffic law will be
forfeited, while abandoned vehicle on highway will be fined N50,000.00
or three years imprisonment, or both fine and imprisonment.
The bill which emanated from the executive arm is aimed at regulating
vehicular movement and to impose sanctions on any erring vehicle
operator in the state.
Lawmakers had carefully examined the bill in June during a public
hearing where all stakeholders were invited and their input and
memoranda were considered at the committee stage.
According to schedule (1) section (2) of traffic offences and
penalties it stated that riding a motor-cycle against traffic and riding
on the kerb, median or road setbacks, 1st time offender will attract
N20,000.00, subsequent offender N30,000.00 or the rider’s motor-cycle
will be impounded.
Smoking while driving will attract N20,000.00, failure to give way to
traffic on the left at a roundabout N20,000.00, disobeying traffic
control will be N20,000.00 violation of route by commercial vehicles
will attract N20,000.00. Riding motor-cycle without crash helmet for
rider and passenger will attract N20,000: 00 or 3years imprisonment or
both.
The law also prohibited under aged person, under 18yrs old, riding a motorcycle with fine of N20,000.00.
Operating a motor-cycle in a restricted area on or prohibited route will be fined N20,000.00 or his motor-cycle impounded.
In schedule II, section (4) or prohibited route for motorcycle and
tricycle on major highways in Lagos. The highways are Lagos Ibadan
expressway, Apapa Oshodi, Oworonshoki, Lagos Ikorodu, Lagos-Abeokuta,
Babangida Boulevarde way, others are Eti-Osa Lekki Epe expressway,
Funsho Williams Avenue, Agege motor road and Eti-Osa Lekki coastal road.
Section (4) of the bill stipulates vehicle inspection offences and
penalties which includes driving without valid driver’s license. Such
offender would have his vehicle impounded. Learner driver without permit
will attract N20,000.00, driving with fake number plate 1st offender
N20,000.00 and 6 months imprisonment or both. Fashola is expected to
sign the bill into law soon.
@vanguard
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