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Driving Against Traffic in Akure

THE Hope notes with pain the rising and flagrant disregard to traffic rules in Akure, the Ondo State capital, in recent times. It is very common to see motorcyclists and motorists deliberately driving against the normal flow of the order of traffic.
THIS is not ideal and proper as it not only leads to road accidents on many occasions, but it also portrays the violators as not law-abiding in the eyes of foreigners and tourists visiting the state for the first time. Such uncivilised behaviours also send wrongs signals to our children as lawless and unpatriotic citizens. The new act of driving against traffic is unconsciously being passed on to the younger ones who also use the slightest opportunities to break the rules and enjoy the rebellious and unpatriotic act of driving against the traffic.
THE HOPE notes that those in this bad habit do so mainly because of impatience and eagerness to get to their destinations without making early traveling arrangements for time and other unexpected human factors. Painfully and regrettably, others also opt to drive against the traffic out of our penchants to break and dare the law. Those in these category are people in position of authority and power who are doing so with impunity and without remorse while some drive against the traffic, probably out of ignorance, as there are no adequate road signs especially the new adventurers in the road ” transportation business.”
THE painful status quo cannot and must not be encouraged with passive looks because lives are being lost daily while property are also being destroyed by the menacing misconduct, which is an ill-wind blowing no one any good.
THE HOPE enjoins law enforcement agencies to set all machineries in motion to discourage or reduce the incidences to the barest minimum. More stringent penalties should be meted out to traffic offenders driving against the expected flow of the traffic. Elites breaking the rule should be treated as criminals accordingly and not as sacred crows as this will send warning to other potential law-breakers. The government should also ensure that road signs are put in appropriate places to help drivers.
INDIVIDUALS, especially elites, can be encouraged to donate such road signs and furniture for communal interest and safety.
ONDO State Government can also help in digitalizing traffic flow with erection of technology-inclined measures and maintenance of Close Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) in conspicuous places to help in apprehending culprits who should be prosecuted. When people know that they will face the wrath of the law if they break the rule, they will think twice before taking the risk. Provision of street lights and ensuring they work well at night will also help in stopping people driving against the traffic in Akure and major towns in the state.
SPECIAL remuneration packages should be worked out for traffic officers to encourage them to work more zealously and even beyond the present situation of working just within the civil service hours. Overtime and weekend services packages should be worked out for them so as to entice them to work outside the civil service hours, when majority of the culprits usually commit the traffic offences.
IMMATURE ‘kid’ drivers and motorcyclists should no longer be encouraged to ply the roads of Akure, as they pose dangers not only to themselves but to other road users, even pedestrians.
THE HOPE believes that with concerted efforts and seriousness from all parties concerned, driving against the traffic in Akure, with its colossal attendant losses in human and material losses, will soon become a thing of the past or, at least, reduced to its barest minimum.

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