Kaduna ‘driving’ motorists back to their senses

In Kaduna, road users are updating their licenses, vehicle and motorcycle particulars and educating themselves on traffic rules and regulations while helmet sellers are making brisk business as sales of the item-a requirement for motorcyclists- has skyrocketed. Reckless driving, wrong parking, disobeying traffic lights and signs, over-speeding and over-loading was the order of the day […]

In Kaduna, road users are updating their licenses, vehicle and motorcycle particulars and educating themselves on traffic rules and regulations while helmet sellers are making brisk business as sales of the item-a requirement for motorcyclists- has skyrocketed.
Reckless driving, wrong parking, disobeying traffic lights and signs, over-speeding and over-loading was the order of the day in Kaduna State before the establishment of the Kaduna State Traffic and Environmental Law Enforcement Agency, (KASTELEA), by the Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, perhaps apparently worried by the outright disregard for traffic and environmental laws.
Many motorists who did not go through driving school are rushing to take crash courses at various accredited driving schools for fear of being apprehended by the staff of the agency.
Now, it has been observed that the scenario around traffic lights within Kaduna is amazing as motorists and motorcyclists are well-behaved and in order. They now wait patiently for the lights before they move, unlike in the past when road users are impatient and beat traffic lights, hence, causing accidents and confusion.
Daily Trust gathered that for many residents in Kaduna, the establishment of the agency was a welcome development considering the reckless and outright disregard to traffic rules by many road users. Another annoying context is the way and manner in which animals especially cows are seen along major roads in some parts of the metropolis causing serious traffic gridlock with the herders not concerned about their actions.
A motorist, Usman Yakubu said “I know I will not have problem with staff of the agency because I always make sure my particulars and all other requirements for the vehicle are up-to-date because I do not want any embracement from someone. I want to implore Nigerians to be law-abiding. I know change is difficult, but that is the only constant thing in life.”
However, while Usman said he renews his particulars as they expire, Mrs. Jummai Jacob confessed that her car particulars expired since August 2015 and was unable to renew them. She said “I gave one of the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) at that time to help me renew them, but he duped me and I did not hear from him again, since then, I have been driving without particulars since no one was stopping people on the road.”
She added that, “Now that KASTELEA has been established, I have to go and renew my particulars or I will be forced to park my car before it gets impounded.”
On his part, Mr. Jacob Danjuma is of the opinion that the laws are too harsh especially as the country is facing an economic downfall. “Nigerian’s are trying to survive with the economic downturn, prices are skyrocketing, so I think the agency should be very mild with residents because most people will not be able to pay for certain fines.”
Hajiya Zainab Inusa said many provisions in the law were too extreme and unnecessary, saying the establishment of the agency is more about increasing revenue rather than making the roads safe.
A motorcyclist, Ibrahim Yahaya, said, “I am a traditional title holder and I needed to be seen with a turban, how then can I wear my turban when I have to wear a helmet?”
Mr. Matthew Moses also does not like the idea of wearing helmets. He said, “Already, when I go somewhere, it is a problem to get where to keep my motorcycle so that it will not be stolen. Now I have to go around carrying a helmet too. I am still battling to make it part of me because, at times, I forget the helmet somewhere.”
On the other hand, Mr. Simon Joseph said he was very happy with the law. “You know us Nigerians. We don’t like change, but this change is for our good,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, major helmet sales depot at Katsina Road, Kaduna is booming, as motorcyclists besiege the shops to helmets which cost between N1, 500 and N3, 000. Besides, boys are seen hawking helmets on the road as it has opened a vista for the product in the city.
Commenting on the purchases, dealers in motorcycle spare parts described the sales as booming. One of the dealers said, “We sell between 30 and 50 helmets daily since the enforcement of the law. The sales are going on well. We have to continuously order for more helmets from Anambra State.” 
It was learnt that the bill establishing the agency, fashioned along the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA), was passed by the Kaduna State House of Assembly in 2014. KASTELEA is empowered to among others, direct and control traffic on public roads and highways in the state in order to decongest them.
The law also empowers the agency to impound vehicles that are not properly parked along public roads and highways in the state as well as remove vehicles that cause traffic hold up. The agency is also charged with the responsibility of educating and enlightening road users and members of the public on the proper use of roads as well as to enhance and designate bus stops and bus terminals.
The agency prescribes fines and sanctions against driving without license, driving by persons below the age of 18, driving an unlicensed vehicle, disobeying traffic signs and traffic lights, driving under the influence of alcohol, riding motorcycle without helmet, driving a vehicle with non-functional lamps, exceeding prescribed speed limit, among others.
KASTELEA is also charged to designate routes for specific vehicles, to control noise which constitutes a nuisance and stop stray animals among several others.