House of Representatives on Monday unveiled plans to roll out stiffer penalties on various traffic offenders as part of efforts geared towards reducing loss of lives on major highways across the country.
Under the new arrangement, driving without headlights or one of them attracts a fine of N20,000, refusal to use pedestrian bridge where one is provided attracts a fine of N20,000.
Hawking on the pedestrian bridge and its precincts attracts a fine of N25,000, violation of traffic lights attracts a fine of N60,000, driving on walkway attracts a fine of N50,000, hitting a pedestrian at zebra crossing attracts a fine of N50,000.
The lawmakers disclosed this at the public hearing on Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Act amendment and a motion on non-enforcement of the establishment, registration and operation of driving schools by the Commission held at the National Assembly complex, Abuja.
Speaker Yakubu Dogara, who declared the public hearing opened, said the legislative framework covered the provision of roads, vehicles and post-crash care as well as increased budgetary allocation to the various sectors.
Dogara, who was represented by Yunusa Abubakar, chairman, House Committee on Road Safety, said: “I am pleased to state here that as legislature of change, we have put in place deliberate measures to achieve a vision of becoming one of the 20th safest countries.
“This is in terms of road transportation and mobility by 2020 and meeting the UN Decade of Action of reducing 2009 crash record by at least half by 2020.”
The speaker, who emphasised the need to evolve appropriate strategies for implementation of relevant laws on safety, said “the bill seeks to amend the FRSC Act to establish some offenses that were hitherto discounted.”
He said until recently, Nigeria had one of the highest fatalities in Africa with 33.7 deaths per 100,000 people yearly, thereby making road accident the third cause of deaths in the country.
“These offenses are common traffic violations that have resulted in the death, injuries, loss of property and have caused monumental hardship and trauma to many families.
“I wish to assure all that your views and opinions will count in evolving the legal framework and implementation strategies for ensuring safety on our roads,” Dogara observed.
In his remarks, Yunusa Abubakar, chairman, House Committee on Road Safety, called for attitudinal change towards road safety administration by all road users.
