Commercial Drivers in Nigeria Defy Traffic Laws, Overload Vehicles with Impunity
TEC News!
A disturbing trend has emerged on Nigerian roads, as most commercial drivers are now carrying four passengers in the front seats of their vehicles, despite this being a clear violation of traffic laws.
According to eyewitnesses and commuters, road traffic regulators appear to be turning a blind eye to this menace, allowing drivers to overload their vehicles with impunity.
TEC News correspondent reports that some drivers have become so brazen that they flare up when passengers complain, and even boast that they cannot be arrested.
“I was shocked when a driver told me that they know their ways and cannot be arrested,” said Jean, a traveler. “He said that only private cars are arrested by road safety and VIO, but commercial cars are exempt.”
Other commuters expressed their concerns about the dangers of overloading, citing the risk of accidents and the difficulty of escaping in case of an emergency.
“The drivers need to be educated,” said one commuter. “If anything happens on transit, how would the driver manage to escape? It’s a recipe for disaster.”
Many have questioned the effectiveness of road safety personnel, asking why they are not doing more to enforce traffic laws.
“Where are the road safety personnel?” asked another commuter. “Are they doing their jobs? If they were, this nonsense wouldn’t have continued. Nigeria is becoming like an animal farm.”
TEC News gathered that two common practices among commercial drivers in Nigeria are dropping passengers midway to another vehicle after assuring them of reaching their destination, and overloading their vehicles.
This blatant disregard for traffic laws and safety protocols has left many Nigerians worried about the state of road safety in the country.
