Motorists and customers of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have lamented the violation of site visitors legal guidelines by motorists and motorcyclists who drove towards site visitors on the expressway.
That's what the highway customers mentioned PUNCH Metro Thursday that impatient bikers and motorists have been keen on utilizing 'one-way methods' to keep away from site visitors, endangering their lives and different commuters utilizing the highway.
When our correspondent visited the freeway, we noticed motorcyclists and a few motorists driving with their passengers at prime velocity towards site visitors, with out regard to the freeway codes.
It was discovered that personal automobile house owners, particularly late at night time, additionally drive towards site visitors, inflicting concern amongst pedestrians who’re disturbed whereas strolling to the facet.
A pedestrian, who recognized himself as Adebisi, mentioned it’s harmful for motorists to make use of a one-way lane, blaming ignorant passengers for encouraging the act.
He mentioned: “Accidents usually occur on this highway so I can’t agree with a motorcyclist wanting to make use of a prohibited one-way lane. It is extremely dangerous, however plainly the passengers really feel snug with it as a result of they must warn these motorcyclists to make use of the suitable lane.
“There’s a route beneath the bridge the place motorcyclists can get to the opposite lane, however they’re adamant. The Odua Individuals's Congress members on this space don’t enable industrial motorcyclists to make use of one-way site visitors at this intersection for the protection of pedestrians, however motorcyclists from far distances usually are not serving to issues,” Adebisi mentioned.
One other pedestrian, Adewale Michael, mentioned the Federal Highway Security Corps ought to begin arresting motorcyclists and motorists who disobey this legislation as they intentionally endanger the lives of highway customers.
“Should you inform them the reality, they received't pay attention. The federal government ought to arrest these site visitors offenders as most passengers will not be conscious of this danger as it’s useful to them. This act is just not acceptable on a freeway like this,” he mentioned.
David Adande, a roadside mechanic on the freeway, who spoke to our correspondent, mentioned one-way site visitors is widespread amongst motorcyclists. He condemned the act, saying this can be very harmful and occurs far too usually.
Adande famous that this reckless conduct had resulted in quite a few accidents and the tragic lack of lives, which should be contained to forestall additional tragedies.
He mentioned: “Driving towards the path of site visitors is reckless and harmful driving. Everybody should drive safely and obey site visitors guidelines to forestall additional tragedies.
“Most accidents on this freeway are the results of non-compliance with site visitors guidelines. These incidents occur too usually and but drivers nonetheless ignore site visitors guidelines. This motion is widespread amongst motorcyclists who’re at all times in a rush to decide on their subsequent passenger.”
In the meantime, motorists who have been within the behavior of driving towards site visitors on the freeway expressed frustration over the position of U-turns on the freeway, stating that the U-turns are too removed from one level to a different.
The motorists mentioned the lengthy distances between U-turn factors have been answerable for driving towards site visitors on the freeway.
The highway customers, who lamented that the U-turns are “inconveniently removed from their respective bus stops”, mentioned the scenario is inflicting delays of their every day journeys.
In separate interviews with PUNCH Metro, commuters mentioned the U-turns are at such lengthy intervals that touring to the following accessible one is time-consuming.
Talking to our correspondent, a motorist, Sainab Hammed, mentioned she resorted to 'one-way site visitors' because of the distance between the closest U-turn and her bus cease, “which is about 5 kilometers.”
Hammed mentioned: 'I stay in Pakuro. The closest U-turn to my bus cease is across the NASFAT finish of the highway. Nonetheless, if I have been to observe the site visitors guidelines, I must drive one other 5 kilometers to succeed in the signposted U-turn, which is after the Redeemed Camp, thus considerably extending my journey.”
A industrial motorcyclist, Jeremiah Alome, revealed that he’s usually pressured by passengers to take one-way routes to keep away from paying excessive fares.
“Each time I select a passenger, they insist that I take the one-way route as a result of it’s the best entry to their respective locations and particularly due to the value related to taking the traditional route,” Alome mentioned .
A truck driver, merely recognized as Musa, mentioned: “Generally we attempt to observe different intersections to keep away from going towards site visitors guidelines, however the roads usually are not nicely linked.”
A motorcyclist, who selected to talk on situation of anonymity, mentioned the federal government ought to construct a flyover or create a U-turn level within the space to ease their motion and forestall them from utilizing one-way methods. He defended his colleagues and said that compliance with this particular site visitors legislation is just not useful for industrial motorcyclists working on the highway.
He mentioned: “The federal government ought to construct a bridge or a U-turn level in the midst of the freeway, particularly at each intersection on the facet of the freeway. Think about a motorcyclist dropping off a passenger in entrance of Mountain of Fireplace Prayer Metropolis; you count on the individual to cycle to the Asese space earlier than turning into the opposite lane. Such an individual has no selection however to make use of a one-way system.
“If there’s a U-turn spot close by and a motorcyclist decides to make use of a one-way system, you may scold or punish him.”
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Federal Highway Security Corps in Ogun State, Florence Okpe, mentioned U-turns usually are not meant for highways, including that motorists haven’t any excuse to observe one-way site visitors and whoever will get caught Failure to obey site visitors guidelines shall be severely punished. punished.
She famous that crusing in a single path is an offense and a advantageous should be paid if caught red-handed.
“The highway is sweet, there are not any obstacles or building works. There have been no issues with the highway for a very long time, in order that they haven’t any excuse for gasoline issues or any motive for utilizing the one-way highway. We now have positioned our patrol crew at strategic factors in order that anybody driving on the one-way avenue is taken into account a harmful driver. Anybody caught shall be booked; Harmful driving carries a advantageous of N50,000.
“There was a sure U-turn that at all times prompted crashes; After our investigation was finished, we determined along with the Minister of Public Works to shut that exit.
“These motorcyclists are extra uncovered to hazard than different motorists, so utilizing restricted lanes could be very harmful. In reality, motorcyclists usually are not supposed to make use of a freeway. We arrest these offenders every time we conduct particular patrols and this enforcement has not stopped,” Okpe mentioned.
