10 Most Commonly Broken Traffic Laws On Lagos Roads

If you are a driver in Lagos, you would have found yourself in a road rage with a fellow road users. Usually because someone does a very dodgy overtake and forcing you to apply the brakes, or someone tailgating you.

There is something peculiar to Lagos roads that make even the best drivers forget the traffic laws. Even though many of these rules are unnecessarily ambiguous, there are are a few that will improve your driving.

1) Safe Follow Distance

It's worth bearing in mind that one of the first few things every baby drivers learn is to maintain a reasonable distance to the vehicle in front.

But most Lagos drivers -experts, and learners- forget this rule once they hit the road, it doesn't matter how well you keep within the speed limit, there is always someone tailgating you. Consider yourself lucky if you have never had someone run into your bumper.

2) Driving Against Traffic (AKA 'One Way' Driving)

This is a punishable offense that attracts a 3-year jail term, while a first time offender gets one year jail term and his vehicle forfeited to the state government. However, It is not uncommon to see Lagos drivers breaking this law despite the penalty that it attracts.

 3) No Drivers License

Many drivers hit the Lagos road without drivers license, I suspect they simply hope not to be stopped by the law enforcement agents. In many cases, they are stopped, but thanks to the officers of the Nigerian police force who will let you get away with anything as long as you offer them bribe.

4) Texting While Driving

If you ply the Lagos road regularly, you'll probably see this all the time. It is absolutely astounding how many people are texting while driving. I am not sure when the trend started, but it's surely gaining momentum.

5) Ignoring Road Rules

Everyday in Lagos you see cars running the rules against traffic lights.

• Cars blocking intersections because they wanted to get through a red light but traffic was too backed up to allow it
• Cars making left turns through red lights well after the light changed because the cars ahead of them did the same thing
• Cars failing to signal turns
• Cars exceeding the speed limit by at least 10 MPH
• Cars making right turns at "No Turn On Red" intersections.

6) Seat Belt

I don't think many people forget this one, they just don't use it. The question is: how difficult is it to fasten your own seat belt? Well! Maybe if every car comes with an automatic seat belt, we will see more drivers using them.