Checking Activities Of Traffic Agencies

Despite efforts by the Rivers State Government
in ensuring good road network and free vehicular movement, more still seems to be done in realizing free movement especially on the roads of the Port Harcourt city.
There is no gainsaying the fact that Rivers State Government has really done a good job and is still doing very well in the area of road construction, particularly in the capital city of Port Harcourt and environs.
The state of major roads in the Port Harcourt city is improving on daily basis. Works are really still going on in the construction of roads, bridges, flyovers and drainages. These have helped in  reducing traffic jams that are witnessed on the major roads.
However, motorists are not really helping matters as some of them defy traffic rules to drive anyhow, thus creating more problems on the roads. This is more so as traffic decongestion agencies including the FRSC, TIMARIV and traffic police are seen on duty trying to control vehicular movements and effect good use of the road to ease transportation difficulties.
Much as Government has really done so well enlisting their services, their activities need to be put under checks to ensure that they discharge their duties creditably and with utmost responsibility.
Particularly, the TIMARIV, probably on account of the unruly attitude of some motorists, especially the commercial drivers, have resorted to being very strict. In as much as strictness is needed for efficient and effective enforcement of the law, it has to be done with some sense of responsibility, fairness, and respect.
It is obvious that abuse does not take away the use. The fact that one or more persons derailed, does not make the whole, bad and guilty. It is observable that the strictness of this group is becoming somewhat lawless, that they are feared by motorists even more than the police or the FRSC. However, the fact is that being strict has to be differentiated from being insensitive and callous. Somehow law-abiding private motorists now suffer in their hands more than some careless commercial drivers. In as much as they should be applauded for maintaining and ensuring certain level of adherence to the traffic rules, their sense of sensitivity and fairness is to be appealed to.
A common situation is seen where some of these traffic agents deployed by the state government are somewhat insensitive to the plight of motorists especially the private car users. Infact, their activities, in most cases do distract and disturb the peace of even some law abiding and respectful motorists. There are situations where some vehicles are impounded without sufficient reasons. There are also situations where a delay or an offence by a particular driver have caused many innocent motorists being delayed more than is usual without apologies.
Worse still, once a driver is alleged to have committed an offence, no amount of argument could convince  the traffic officials to have a rethink on the alleged offence. It is either the offender settles these agents with some amount of money or be threatened with more stringent punishment, should they get to the office.
Dramatically, some touts now claim to be part of  TIMARIVand harass drivers extorting money from them and instilling fears into some unsuspecting law abiding citizens who ply the road with their cars. Is the TIMARIV not aware of these people? And what are they doing about it? They are not hidden but stay very close to them, still engaging in their nefarious activities. This makes it difficult to know who really are government authorized traffic agents and who are not, as many of them do not put on uniform, but display one ID card or the other.
There is thus the need for the government to pay attention to the activities of road traffic agents with a view to fishing out those intimidating motorists and extorting them. On the other hand, these agents need to be adequately trained to be fair, respectful and law abiding in the discharge of their lawful duties.

Ejidike is of the Catholic Institute of West Africa, Port Harcourt.

Vincent Ejidike