.jpg)
Nigerian roads, over the years, have become one of the most deadly globally.
Road traffic crashes, that could be avoided, happen almost on a daily basis across the country.
While some of them are mild, others are fatal claiming the lives of the drivers, other passengers in the vehicles and people close to the scene of the accidents.
Road traffic offenders are not restricted to trailers, trucks, buses, van drivers, but also tricycle, motorcycle, bicycle riders, truck and wheelbarrow pushers whose actions could cause road crashes on the roads.
The offences, some Nigerian drivers have perpetuated in the country and went scot-free over the years included disobeying speed-limits erected on the roads, driving a vehicle without a valid vehicle license of identification, using GSM phone while driving.
Others include driving a vehicle or motorcycle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, disobeying traffic light signals, dangerously and wrongfully overtaking another vehicle, driving a vehicle without a valid learner's permit; driver's license or any other permit required by law
Also some road traffic offenders have driven vehicles without using seatbelts, disobeying road signs or pavement markings, driving on the road without any lights or faulty lights.
Not only do they drive without signs or reflectors, some of them engage in wrongful use of signals.
Some drivers without care for other road users block free flow of traffic by obstructing sections of the road with their vehicles.
Other offenders also use a restricted road where it Is marked "one way" or "no entry"
Apart from driving a vehicle, a two or three wheel cycle on the road in a reckless or negligent manner dangerous to other road users, some of the offenders drive with forged vehicle papers.
The offences include driving a vehicle or motorcycle or any mechanically propelled engine to damage street light, traffic lights, road signs etc, engaging in any act of commission or omission which may constitute hazard to other road users, remove from a vehicle, the sign, "Do not move", and using a road that is under construction.
Also contributing to road traffic crashes are failure of drivers to move over to the slow lane to free up traffic flow, moving a vehicle without covering gravel or other unstable materials with tarpaulin or strong plastics to stop it spilling on the road and damaging other road users' vehicles.
Other offenders have also obstructed a marshal in the performance of his or her duty, covering number plates at the front and rear sides of a vehicle, loading a vehicle above the weight or number of passengers required by law, and driving a vehicle with projected load
Offenders have also driven vehicles with damaged or shattered windscreens, worn tyres or without spare tyre, and driving a vehicle that is mechanically deficient.
Other offences include driving a vehicle without fire extinguisher, driving a vehicle that emits excessive smoke, driving a commercial vehicle without a passenger manifest
Traffic offences also include underage drivers below 18 years of age, plying the road by commercial drivers and conductors without badges, plying the road without side and inner rear mirrors, smoking or eating while driving, driving a double-decker bus in Nigeria.
Other offences include failure to use vehicle headlights during clement weather, failure to signal when changing lanes, and making a turn or pulling in front of another vehicle.
Vehicle drivers in Nigeria have also been involved in not properly securing under-aged children in an approved school safety seat or booster seat, travel in a bed of a pick-up truck by any person
Other offences include riding motorcycle without crash helmet properly strapped to the head and fastened under the chin, and driving with one hand.
While the list of offences could go on and on, road crashes have led to other great impacts in the country.
One of the great impacts of roads accidents in Nigeria is that the country loses about N80 billion annually to road crashes.
They have also resulted to 29.1 per cent disability to Nigerians, while 13.5 per cent are not able to return to work after the accident.
Aiming to change the ugly trend on Nigerian roads, FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed, during the period under review activated Penalty Points System,
This system is designed to track and penalize drivers who commit traffic offences.
The penalty points system, according to a statement by Assistant Corps Marshal, Olusegun Ogungbemide, Corps Public Education Officer, Federal Road Safety Corps Headquarters, Abuja, is a proven method of enforcing traffic laws, as it assigns points to drivers for various traffic offences.
It reads "When a driver accumulates a certain number of points, he becomes liable to penalties such as warning, licence suspension or complete withdrawal of the licence."
Explaining the Points further, the Corps Marshal revealed that Drivers who accumulate between 10-14 points will receive a warning notification signifying that the driver should desist henceforth from violating traffic regulations.
When the driver goes ahead to accumulate between 15-20 points, his/her drivers licence will be suspended, signifying a temporary withdrawal of rights to drive in Nigeria.
However, the drivers licence finally gets withdrawn when the driver accumulates 21 points, indicating that the driver's right to drive on Nigerian roads is totally taken away or denied.
Examples of Traffic Offences and penalty points in Nigeria include: Driving without a valid driver's license which accrues 10 penalty points, and ₦10,000 fine; Speed limit violation 5 penalty points and ₦5,000 fine; Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs 5 penalty points, ₦5,000 fine; as well as Dangerous Driving which accrues 10 penalty points and N50,000 fine.
"ln addition to the various sanctions associated to the aforementioned accrued points, it will also form part of the record to be forwarded to countries demanding for driving history/extract of Nigerian Drivers applying to drive in foreign land. All these are determined efforts of the Corps to engender sanity and reduce fatalities on our roads.
"You may wish to know that the penalty points system, apart from promoting road safety ideals and reducing the number of road traffic crashes in Nigeria, also proves to be a proactive move towards stiffer enforcement of traffic laws, signifying a step in the right direction in FRSC's quest to ensure that Nigerian road are safe all to use." the statement concluded
Knowing that Nigerians are very intelligent and can beat any system and policies introduced by the government, it is expected that the implementation of this system has been well-thought out to block any loophole.
It is also important that from the onset that officers and men of FRSC that will implement the Penalty Points System, are those that will place National interests above personal interests.
While it should never be used as another avenue to extort money from the public, all offenders should be treated equally in line with the dictates of the system.
With these properly handled, it is hoped that sanity will speedily be brought to bear on the Nigerian roads, and reduce traffic offences and crashes, thereby saving lives and unnecessary property lose in Nigeria.
Tags
FEATURES