The need for adequate sensitization on Nigeria road use has
compelled me to write on the recklessness of motorist on our roads in Nigeria
using Abuja where I live currently as a case study. And I think I will have to
pen down some of my observations on the attitude of our road users for a couple
of days or weeks.
From study, I understand a lot of organizations and agencies
had done sensitization on the causes of accident on our roads, such as over
speeding, use of mobile phone while driving, drunk driving, failure to use seat
belt, etc. However I will like to focus on some mistakes many of drivers make
but we hardly talk about, and which may often lead to road accident.
Rascality One:
Disobedience to Road Sign and Traffic Signals
First, I like to commend the government on the road network
in Abuja-FCT and the availability of road signs at many junctions and strategic
locations, which however I believe can be improved on. I said this because I
still observed some key spots where there are no road signs, whether it was
never there or it was removed and no one notice it has to be replaced. Having
said that, my focus today is how many motorist do obey road signs?
I was driving back home sometimes last week along the
airport road, somewhere around Lugbe. I was at that time on the service lane
when a driver who I suppose was driving into FHA-Lugbe, was exiting from the
expressway into the service lane and almost ran into my car. I had to swerve
away from his car slightly and almost had a collision with the vehicle adjacent
to me, if not for God’s intervention. Apparently the driver from the expressway
refuse to stop or slow down on his speed while linking the service lane,
neither was he ready to “give way” to vehicles which were already on the
service lane.
I think a lot of motorist in Abuja is guilty of this and
same with those who want to join the expressway from service lane. We often say
to ourselves the drivers on the highway can sight me at least so he/she will
wait, thereby failing to do the right thing.
Many times we failed to understand that some drivers are not
fully conscious of the fact that we are trying to join the service lane or
expressway and were only focusing on the vehicle which are within their “short
view”. Probably they are even distracted by phone call or side talk from
passenger.
My advice is that motorist should endeavor to drive slowly and
watch out for upcoming vehicles when approaching a junction and always obey the
“Give way” sign.
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| Give way sign in Nigeria |
This signs are for our safety if only we Nigerians can appreciate
and obey them.
Obeying traffic lights whether day or night is a must with
or without a traffic warden, except for emergency vehicles to help reduce
response time. However, some drivers of the emergency vehicles in Nigeria also
need orientation and what I will call “COMMON SENSE” while on the road. Many
times when we disobey this traffic signals we endanger our lives and that of
other road user who have the right-of-way. Having said that, I will plead that
the government should constantly improve on our traffic lights and signals cut
across the country and make it more efficient.
In Summary, the key points to note today are:
- Driver willingness to obey traffic lights and road sign even when no one is observing
- Government agencies should cultivate good maintenance culture and constantly improve on the road signs and traffic signals
- I like to recommend that government agencies like FRSC should have patrol team that will drive amidst motorist to spot offenders, possibly with the use of mobile cameras to capture plate numbers and document offenses. It shouldn’t just be the usual pattern of parking at certain junctions to look out for driver who do not have driver license, knowing fully well that in Nigeria having a driver license doesn’t guarantee knowing how to drive. This method of standing by strategic locations however can be used to arrest defaulters who refuse to pay their fine and can also be done when vehicle license is to be renewed.
- Familiarity with symbols on traffic and road signs is important for everyday user in order to maintain the safety measures. So I like to recommend that FRSC and other agencies should promote certain jingles and sensitization tips on road signs and traffic rules for drivers who had only crude learning of driving without knowledge of road signs/traffic rules.
Steve Kay
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