'Traffic offenders should be sentenced to community service, more', minister proposes

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing,

At a public hearing on road safety and driving schools, the minister advised the House of Representatives to be more daring with their policies.

READ: House of Rep to set N20,000 fine for traffic offenders

He added that “jail terms and fines do not necessarily serve as a deterrence or correct offenders."

"The magistrate can sentence them to community service, such as cutting grass in public, and they will be on video, and can even be on TV.

Road users who refuse to use pedestrian bridges where they are available, should be punished as they endanger themselves and others.

Penalties seem to focus on custodial and pecuniary which have existed for a while and have not caused a reduction. Perhaps parliament can be a little more daring.

An automobile is not a toy, it is a machine, and you must be trained to use it. But we have neglected the training part, now almost anyone can get into a car, shuffle a few things, and get onto the highway. Only people who know how to drive should be behind the wheel."

READ: "We will focus on aggressive enforcement of traffic regulations”, FRSC vows

The committee promised to take his ideas into consideration.