By Funmilayo Adu
The Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) in Ogun has warned the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) against parking their vehicles at undesignated bus-stops around Toll-Gate on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
Mr Adekunle Ajibade, the Sango-Ota Area Commander of TRACE, issued the warning in an interview with our correspondent in Ota, Ogun.
Ajibade spoke in reaction to an accident involving two vehicles and two motorcycles, which led to the death of two persons and one other sustaining an injury.
A trailer with registration No. T-4223 LA, had a head-on collision with a Volkswagen and two motorcycles, killing two persons while one other sustaining an injury on Abeokuta-Lagos Expressway at about 5.10 a.m.
He said the warning had become necessary to NURTW members as this practice sometimes resulted to traffic gridlocks and unnecessary loss of lives on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
Ajibade said most of the members of the NURTW engaged motorists who parked their vehicles indiscriminately without observing safety measures.
The area commander stressed the need to discourage such practice at Toll-Gate area to reduce mishaps during and after the ember months.
Ajibade explained that the accident could have been averted if the driver of the trailer had not engaged in wrongful overtaking and observed the speed limit.
“We are appealing to motorists to drive carefully and ensure proper maintenance of their vehicles to reduce road crashes, especially at the Toll-Gate area on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
“In addition, motorists should refrain from reckless driving and reduce their speed to the barest minimal to stem mishaps during the ember months,” he said.
He said the task force and other security agencies were working assiduously to remove those trading on the road, and that they had been warned several times to desist from such practice.
Ajibade reiterated the commitment of TRACE to continue to work with other sister agencies to ensure the safety of lives around Toll-Gate on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.