The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, has bared its fangs and impounded 84 commercial and private vehicles during a weekend crackdown on one-way driving, illegal garages and other traffic offences in Idumota, Iddo, Ijora-Olopa, Costain and Onipanu.
A statement by the transport agency said the operation was done as part of the agency’s efforts to restore order on major traffic corridors and ensure compliance with traffic regulations, especially in areas where repeated violations by motorists and commercial bus operators have persisted and affected road safety and ease of movement of vehicles.
LASTMA stated that one of the pressing concerns observed during the operation was the practice of commercial buses reversing against traffic along the one-way stretch from Iddo to Idumota through Cater Bridge.
The body described the act as dangerous because motorists, commuters and pedestrians coming to the bridge may have little or no warning that a commercial vehicle is unlawfully moving in the opposite direction.
“Motorists and other legitimate road users approaching the bridge may have little or no forewarning that a commercial vehicle is unlawfully reversing against the prescribed direction of traffic, thereby creating an extremely hazardous situation with the potential to precipitate devastating collisions, injuries and fatalities,” the agency said.
General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the operation as a necessary and long-overdue intervention to tackle what he described as a growing disregard for traffic regulations and restore order along major traffic routes.
“The Agency had repeatedly cautioned transport operators, commercial bus drivers and other road users against occupying under-bridge spaces, road setbacks and unauthorised locations as illegal garages, stressing that such practices constitute serious impediments to effective traffic management and pose considerable risks to public safety,” Bakare-Oki stated.
The General Manager said the ongoing campaign was aimed at improving compliance with traffic regulations, discouraging dangerous driving practices and protecting the lives and property of motorists, commuters, pedestrians and other road users.
LASTMA appealed to commercial bus operators, motorists, transport unions and other stakeholders to stop one-way driving, dangerous reversing, illegal parking, indiscriminate loading and the use of unauthorised garages or under-bridge areas.
