Section 96 of the National Road Traffic Regulations, 1997, states that “Auto-cycles, motorcycles under 50cc, invalid carriages, hand-pushed trucks, pedalcyclists and pedestrians with or without parambulators shall not be permitted on any expressway, except on trucks and paths which have been provided for such use, and may not cross any expressway except at designated locations.”
Likewise, Section 92 of the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2004, states that “Tricycles, motorcycles under 50cc, invalid carriage, hand pushed trucks, pedal cyclists and pedestrians with or without perambulators shall not be permitted on any expressway, except on trucks and paths which have been provided for such use, and may not cross any expressway except at designated location.”
The implementation of these regulations started in April 7, 1997 and January 12, 2004 respectively
In line with the above, the immediate-past Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, in 2015, barred tricycles (Keke Napep) and motorcycles from plying major highways in the state, including the Enugu—Onitsha Expressway, Arthur Eze Avenue and Zik’s Avenue in Awka.
Aside the above-cited stipulations, this restriction, which was announced through a statement signed by the then state’s Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Mrs. Uju Nwogu, was also necessitated by the incessant and recurring traffic crashes that usually happened on the highways then, most of which usually involved tricycles and motorcycles.
According to the statement, defaulters of this state-wide bar, which took effect from Monday, June 1, 2015, would have their motorcycles or tricycles impounded, while law enforcement agencies would also be on the roads to ensure full and strict compliance to the directive.
Howbeit, the statement also said that a fine of N5,000 (for motorcycles) or N10,000 (for tricycles) would be paid to retrieve such impounded motorcycles or tricycles (for first offenders); while subsequent arrest for a second time violation would attract outright confiscation of the motorcycle or tricycle by the state government.
Notwithstanding the necessity and seriousness of this bar and the associated punishments, it is unimaginable and a thing of regret that some defiant motorcyclists and tricyclists still operate on the highways, especially in Awka, the capital city of Anambra State.
Overtime, these defiant tricyclists have been sighted operating on these restricted highways, both in the day and the night hours, as if there was never a policy or restriction at all against that. Their defiance grew to the extent that they now have known loading parks along the said highways, as is seen today at UNIZIK Junction (UNIZIK Temp. Site) Awka and some other places in the state today.
The worse part of it all is that majority of these tricyclists now ply one-way, which is also against any known traffic rules in the country, thereby exposing pedestrians and other road users to a huge risk of road traffic crashes.
A good instance was the one that recently occured when one of the tricyclists brushed down a pedestrian in Awka, as he (the pedestrian) wanted to run-cross to the other side of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, watching out only for vehicles coming from his left side, while the tricyclist who was speeding to Aroma Junction brushed him from the other side, right opposite Mobil Filing Station, UNIZIK Junction.
Some of them tricyclists and motorcyclists even ply the three flyovers along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway in Awka.
Moreover, ever since the Keke operators and motorcyclists started flouting the rule date, no single security agency has been seen on the road to apprehend or sanction them, hence a very pertinent question on the seriousness, the place, and the action of the government and the relevant law enforcement agencies in the implementation of this well published bar and regulation; as well as the need and a call for more urgent action from the concerned authorities.
FRSC Reacts:
When contacted the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Anambra State Command, CC Adeoye Irelewuyi, described such driving of the tricyclists as both dangerous and against the traffic rules, especially the National Road Traffic Regulations, which also restricts tricycles and motorcycles from plying highways.
He said: “I will agree with you on the dangers that are inherent in vehicles driving against the rules. Apart from the fact that it was a state government directive; even the National Road Traffic Regulation stipulates the category of vehicles that should ply the Express.
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