BRT bus
By Tony Folarin
Many Lagosians who spoke with National Waves have condemned the deplorable attitudes of many Lagosians who are in the habit of breaking traffic rules.
They cited a situation whereby many still find it difficult to climb pedestrian bridge when government has taken pain to provide in order to cut the rate of killings on the roads occasioned by commuters crossing the road instead of making use of the bridges.
This condemnation comes on the heels of a Bus Rapid Transport vehicle which reportedly overturned around 6.25 am Friday at Iyana Ipaja in Alimosho area of Lagos.
The ill-fated vehicle was said to have taken off at BRT terminal in Iyana Ipaja enroute Obalende inwards Dopemu when the accident happened.
According to eyewitness account, the cause of the mishap was a pedestrian who was crossing the BRT dedicated lane who the driver of the BRT was trying to swerve the vehicle to avoid hitting.
The accident led to a traffic snarl on both sides, but the prompt response of relevant traffic agencies and security brought the situation to normalcy, though about 10 passengers were said to have sustained varying degrees of injury, none of them critical.
The BRT bus has been towed to a nearby police station and the traffic situation brought under control.
Adebayo Abimbola, a trader blamed some Lagosians who are always in the habit of flouting traffic rules. ’ I can’t understand why Nigerians find it difficult to obey traffic rules. This morning accident at Iyana Ipaja could have been averted if the pedestrian had not crossed the dedicated BRT lane.’’
This view was shared by Ngozi Okonkwo a hair dresser. ‘’I don’t think Nigerians are ready to obey rules until you apply serious sanctions; you have to force them. We thank God nobody died this morning in this avoidable accident.’’
