Tuesday 12 August 2014

Traffic Jams: A big issue in Lagos

The traffic jams situation popularly known as ‘ go –slow’ is really in a grim situation that many have come to accept by adjusting schedules and engagements to accommodate. With the increasing population of Lagos of about 17 million people, Lagos city is increasing with the resultant rise in traffic congestion. The average annual daily traffic in Lagos is about 160,000.
The situation of Lagos traffic is very worrisome, considering the fact that most people buy cars as soon as they can afford it, therefore, contributing to the overall amount of vehicles on the road, to the mass public transport is not convenient for them.
Road is a major medium of transportation and development in many places has left expansion unlikely. Also, road users who try to use driving as a means to show their frustration over personal matters and those who are used to the rush life contribute to the situation by disobeying traffic laws and recklessness respectively.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, is the key to traffic issues in Lagos. They have been delegators responsible to ease off traffic in years past until now and answers. Some may point until the problems. LASTMA officials work round the clock and stationed in several spots. Their vision statement is to ensure a free flow of traffic, for better social economic activities in the state. Their mission statement is to reduce deaths, injuries, and economic losses from road traffic accidents, conflict, congestion and delays on the public highways in Lagos state by employing modern traffic management techniques to inject order and control into the road traffic system.
Although, certain motorist, however, have issues with them. This may be for any reasons with blame sometimes going either way; people should always remember that this relatively young agency is a solution that will improve less traffic
In the minds of road users most especially the public transport are ideas they know that when applied on certain routes will ease traffic along. These ideas sometimes come in conversation with another fellow during traffic or when distraught in protracted traffic and thoughts for solution from the obvious pops.
The popular opinion on road traffic solution in Lagos includes, expanding and repairing the roads and improving water and rail transportation. The government has succeeded in proving roads but the other transportation are yet to be a full success. The traffic situation in the state is still very serious while some people say the huge number of cars in the roads are to blame, others believe that there is the need to use alternative transportation options.
For example, there is the need to develop the water and rail transportation system. This will go a long way in reducing the number of people who ply the roads. The state government should work towards making these sectors comfortable and clean as well; this is important if we are to encourage corporate workers on the island to drop their cars at home and travel by water to their offices.
The rail should also be made very clean and efficient. The image of people struggling to get coaches should be procured by government and they should be time conscious. This suggestion can also be employed in cities experiencing terrible traffic solutions.
I hope with this, the traffic situation in Lagos roads can be reduced. Wasting time as a result of traffic is a huge loss.

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