Tackling traffic gridlock with technology
Can sanity ever return to Lagos roads? The state government, experts and transportation stakeholders say it is possible if motorists comply with traffic regulations, writes ADEYINKA ADERIBIGBE
“Many, these days, dread to be on the roads in Lagos,” a top government worker, who craved anonymity, admitted toTransportation Studies teacher Prof. Samuel Odewunmi blamed the traffic mayhem on “government’s planlessness.”Odewunmi, who is Dean, School of Transportation Studies, Lagos State University , said the state got into traffic crisis because it embarked upon massive reconstruction of virtually all its arterial corridors at the same time, against the grain of urban transport planning.
Observing that traffic congestions are localised, Odewunmi called on the state to involve the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas in road maintenance and developing traffic solutions in their domain, rather than having them as onlookers. “Among other things, we are extending the working hours of all our traffic officers, as the governor has approved that they can now run three shifts, especially on perennial traffic prone corridors. The governor has also directed security cover for them against assaults and molestations in the course of their duties, while the Ministry of Justice has been directed to set up more mobile courts to try traffic offenders,” he said.
He said with the take off of the new bus scheme, and the channelisation of the waterways for increased patronage, there would be a reduction in road traffic. Bamigbetan said the government was determined to rid the state of gridlocks. he added that no stone would be left unturned in the task of making travel seamless in the state.
He said what needed to be done to tame the nightmarish traffic was to give purposeful leadership and direction to the agency as it remained the only one that could help resolve the crippling traffic.
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