•311 impounded
By Moses Akaigwe
Commercial motor vehicles are not excluded from the routine roadworthiness enforcement carried out by the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) and other traffic enforcement agencies in Lagos state.
The clarification was made by the Director of Vehicle Inspection Service in the state, Engr. Akin- George Fashola.
The Director spoke on Thursday, while responding to feedbacks during “Your Side Mirror,” a live programme on Traffic Radio 96.1FM, where callers had alleged that the VIS only go after erring private vehicles, leaving the commercial vehicles out of their enforcement operations.
Clearing the air, Fashola stressed that commercial buses are not spared, but are only handled with caution for safety of passengers and other road users.
The Director further stated that the VIS and other enforcement agencies have continued to apprehend and impound rickety commercial motor vehicles, adding that such vehicles are recommended to be dismembered by the owners.
He further revealed that about 311 commercial vehicles have been impounded from January 2023 to date, through their body tags – a move, he explained, is part of efforts by the state government to ensure the safety of lives of residents, especially commuters.
Speaking on the Automatic Number Plate Recognition, (ANPR) camera and the Traffic Management Solution, (TMS) device deployed by the state government in compliance with traffic laws and regulations, Fashola said the initiative has reduced the interface between traffic enforcement officers and motorists.
He added that the technology is a win-win procedure for both the law enforcement officers and motorists as the regular arguments on traffic laws violation will be put to rest through detailed recordings.
The Director assured that VIS officers are compliant with the state traffic laws and would not exert any action outside what is stipulated in the law.