Lagos State residents have been called upon to eschew unruly attitude on roads and condemn those perpetrating it to promote sanity and safety of lives and property.
The State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Ladi Lawanson who made the call in Lagos said many Lagosians are guilty of improper behaviour on our roads.According to him, ‘’We all have to accept responsibility for what our state and our city has become, and we all have to accept responsibility for making it better,’’
He said that commuters tolerated motorists and commercial motorcyclists popularly referred to as okada riders flouting traffic rules and regulations appealing to the residents to support instead of condemn arrest or punishment of erring motorists and motorcyclists by law enforcers.
According to him, citizens’ support for traffic managers and regulatory agencies in the discharge of their duties will reduce bad behaviours on the roads.
He regretted that recklessness by motorists and okada riders endangered lives of other road users.
“We did not initially catch the person who drove that tanker on the Otedola Bridge, which was created to carry only 15 tonnes but carried 33 tonnes which, even if he had the best break, it would not still work out well.
“We did not catch him the first time he was an offender; he ran away; look at what happened,’’ he said.
The commissioner said that the state government had taken some measures that required the support of citizens to achieve desired results in traffic management.
Lawanson said that the government had began deployment of technology in the enforcement of traffic rules adding that the government was also intensifying efforts to change the bad attitudes of commercial motorcyclists and motorists through sensitisation programmes.
He said that the change of attitude would require much engagement with their unions.According to him , “Enforcement and governance require a lot of engagement, it is not just telling somebody this is what I want you to do’’ .
He disclosed that the ministry would soon begin a reality show targeted at eliminating recklessness on roads.
