Tuesday, 26 June 2012

ARE MOTOCYCLIST ABOVE THE LAW OF TRAFFIC?



Traffic is what is to be respected in any part of the world by all motorists. But what will you think when Okada riders (motor cyclist in Nigeria) fail to obey every little traffic rules? Are they not motorists’ too? I always wonder while growing up.
Though, aside Nigeria my home country, I have not been to other advanced countries but at least I have been privilege to have been to two other West African countries, Republic of Benin and Togo. In these two countries I have been able to compare the attitude of their motor cyclist towards traffic light.
Speaking to a policewoman at Pen-Cinema round about, Corporal Fayemi Funmilayo who said that “No, the law states that all motorists including motorcycle must obey all traffic rules. But you see, there is high level of indiscipline in the country”.
“If you stop them, they won’t stop” added a LASMI officer standing close to her. “Now tell me how many of them will we arrest?” he questioned.
Fayemi also said “They have put the laws into their hands, including commercial bus drivers and private car owners”. The most annoying are the private car owners who now feel they are superior since the Inspector General of Police has stopped stop and search” she lamented.
It was gathered that majority if not all the motorcyclist does not have their complete documents, while a speaking to Mr. Austine Babajide, a business man at the ever busy Pen-Cinema bus/stop. He added “the traffic wardens are trying, but this Okada people are too stubborn”.
However not many agreed with the fact that the traffic wardens are doing their jobs in respect of this issue. “No, there are not, these police have been blinded by corruption, they are blind to all what these motorcyclists are doing because they are used to their bribing” he shouted with concern written all over his face.
The government has been urged to re-establish this law because it seems some of the motorcyclists are ignorant of most of what the constitution constitute.

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