The Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday signed the much talked-about Lagos Road Traffic Bill into law.
The new law restricts movement of commercial motorcycles (aka Okada) and articulated vehicles in certain areas within Lagos metropolis, it also seeks to curb the execesses of motorist, bring sanity back to Lagos roads and promote the safety of all road users.
For instance the new law as signed prohibits eating, drinking, counting money, making phone calls, texting, pinging or engaging in any dangerous activities while driving.
Anyone caught engaging in any of the aforementioned traffic offences will pay a fine of N20,000(first time offenders) and subsequently N30,000 or in lieu a maximum of three years imprisonment.
The new law also bars trailers and heavy duty trucks except petrol tankers from entering the state or travelling within Lagos metropolis between 6a.m. and 9p.m., while riding on certain roads and times have been outlawed for operators of the commercial motorcycle, tricycle, wheel-barrow and cart pushers.
These means of transportation are out rightly banned on the following routes , including the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Ikorodu Road, Agege Motor Road, Funsho Williams Avenue, Eko Bridge, Third Mainland Bridge, Carter Bridge, Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Victoria Island-Lekki-Epe Expressway and all bridges.
Where permitted, commercial motocyclist can only operate between 6am and 8pm. Motorcycles of courier companies are exempted – on the provision that they must have an engine capacity of 200cc, carry prescribed number plates and identification, be fitted with proper mail cabin and must not carry any passenger.
The law, which took about 18 months to prepare is to ensure safety.