LASTMA impounds 84 vehicles in Lagos traffic crackdown

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has impounded 84 commercial and private vehicles for various traffic offences during an enforcement operation in parts of the state.

The operation was carried out during the weekend in Idumota, Iddo, Ijora-Olopa, Costain and Onipanu, the agency said in a statement, Vanguard Newspaper reported on Sunday.

LASTMA said the enforcement focused on traffic violations, including the practice of commercial buses reversing against traffic on the one-way stretch from Iddo to Idumota through Cater Bridge.

The agency’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, stated that the practice could put motorists and pedestrians at risk because vehicles approaching the bridge might not see a bus reversing towards them.

“Motorists and other legitimate road users approaching the bridge may have little or no forewarning that a commercial vehicle is unlawfully reversing against the prescribed direction of traffic, thereby creating an extremely hazardous situation with the potential to precipitate devastating collisions, injuries and fatalities,” Mr Bakare-Oki said.

Officers allegedly attacked

LASTMA also noted that some of its officers were assaulted and operational vehicles damaged during the enforcement.

Mr Bakare-Oki said people suspected of attacking the officers and damaging the vehicles were arrested.

 He also warned transport operators against turning under-bridge spaces, road setbacks and other unauthorised areas into garages, saying such activities could obstruct traffic.

 The Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018, provides sanctions for various traffic offences, including violations involving designated routes, illegal parking and disobedience to traffic-control personnel.

 LASTMA urged motorists to obey traffic regulations and avoid driving against traffic, dangerous reversing, illegal parking and indiscriminate loading.

 It asked members of the public to report dangerous driving, traffic obstruction and other traffic offences through its toll-free short code, 3367.