Concerned by the alarming rate at which commercial vehicles and Motorcycle riders violate road traffic rules and regulations across the State, the Ogun State House of Assembly has canvassed for stringent measures against traffic offenders so as to promote safety on roads in the State.

The Chairman, House Committee on Transportation, Hon. Israel Jolaoso, who said this at the ongoing 2017 budget assessment visit to the headquarters of the State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) explained that the introduction of such measures would drastically reduce road crashes.

Corroborating Jolaoso’s view, other members of the Committee, including the Chief Whip,  Idowu Olowofuja,  Honourables Victor Fasanya, Ganiyu Oyedeji and Jimi Otukoya decried the rate at which commercial drivers especially motorcycle riders flouted traffic light and other traffic regulations especially within Abeokuta metropolis.

The members charged the Corps to embark on massive enlightenment programmes to orientate road users on road signs inscribed on the Ogun Standard roads across the State as well as ensuring that the violators were penalized.

They further sought for the need for the corps to deploy more traffic personnel to enforce compliance with the traffic light devices installed at strategic places to ease traffic congestion. The lawmakers while commending the agency for its resourcefulness, posited that sustainable traffic management remained a crucial factor in the economy of any developing nation, charging the agency to evolve more strategies in traffic management in the State.

Earlier in his presentation, the Commandant, TRACE, Seni Ogunyemi stated that the agency, with the assistance of the House during the period under review, had repealed the 2009 TRACE (road traffic offences) Regulations to TRACE (Road Traffic Offences) Regulations 2016 for more effective service delivery.

He explained that as part of its commitment for operational efficiency, the agency, introduced “TETS TRACE ” emergency traffic service under the auspices of the agency’s Traffic Whistle blower policy to promote transparency, just as it had ensured drastic reduction in road traffic crashes through its 24 hours prompt response to emergency calls and rescue of crash victims.