Traffic: Lagos Confirms 11 Laws That Could Send Road Users To Jail In Minutes

The Lagos State Government has released new traffic laws for the city and relevant punishments for offenders which will be applied by the newly inaugurated mobile courts.
With these laws, mobile courts are empowered to fine offenders as high 50,000, impound their vehicles or send them to jail immediately if found guilty from February 7, 2016.

Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade had on Friday inaugurated mobile courts in the state to promptly try traffic offenders and mete immediate punishments to them where applicable.
Atilade said: “Those who chose to make life difficult for other people, especially on our roads, should have a re-think, as they would henceforth be held accountable for their deeds.
“Flagrant disregard or violation of traffic rules with impunity is unacceptable and as such, must be discouraged and condemned by all.”
She continued, “You see them break traffic rules at will and cause needless traffic snag on our roads. They also, most often, drove against traffic and beat the traffic lights, destroy traffic furniture and infrastructure, drive across the road median and through their lawlessness and irresponsible actions, daily inflict pains, grieve and sorrow on fellow citizens.
“Businesses are impeded, as several productive hours are unnecessarily lost in traffic, mostly due to acts of indiscipline by few recalcitrant and obstinate drivers and road users, who are laws unto themselves. As we speak, many have been sent to early graves, while several others are either maimed or lying critically ill in the hospital.”
Below are the 11 new laws that road users must know by heart and their attendant punishments.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Riding a motor-cycle against traffic and riding on the kerb, median or road setbacks will attract N20,000.00 for 1st time offenders, while subsequent offenders will get N30,000.00 (thirty-thousand Naira) fine or the riders’ motor-cycle will be impounded.
4. Smoking while driving will attract N20,000.00 (twenty thousand Naira).
5. Failure to give way to traffic on the left at a roundabout attracts N20,000.00 (twenty thousand Naira).
6. Disobeying traffic control is N20,000.00 (twenty thousand Naira)
7. Motorcycles and Tricycles are prohibited from riding on major Highways in the state. The Highways are Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Oworonshoki – Ikorodu, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway and Babangida Boulevard Way. Others are Lekki-Epe Expressway, Funsho Williams Avenue, Agege Motor Road and Eti-Osa-Lekki coastal road.
8. Violation of route by commercial vehicles will attract N20,000.00 (twenty thousand Naira)
9. Riding motor-cycle without Crash Helmet for rider and passenger will attract N20, 000.00 (twenty thousand Naira) or 3 years imprisonment or both.
10. Prohibits under-aged person, under 18 years old from riding a motorcycle and the fine for this is N20,000.00 (twenty thousand Naira).
11. Operating a motor-cycle in a restricted area on or prohibited route will attract a fine of N20,000.

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