Ghastly Accidents Forces Oyo Government To Impound Right Hand Vehicles

In order to reduce the numerous traffic crashes attributed to right hand wheels in Oyo State, the Oyo State Government has stated that it was ready to start impounding such vehicles.

This it said is because the rate of accidents regarding such vehicles was in the increase and it has began to constitute hazard to both users and other road users.

The Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority (OYRTMA) has also stated its readiness to impound and prosecute right-hand drive vehicles and its owners, caught in any part of the state.

This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Executive Chairman, Mogaji Akin Fagbemi in Ibadan.

"Sequel to the continuous and flagrant breach of Section 71 of the 2004 National Road Traffic Regulation that stipulates that no vehicle with right-hand steering be registered or numbered in Nigeria, the Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority would henceforth impound and prosecute any of such vehicle and its owner.

“This became imperative as a result of numerous road traffic crashes attributed to right-hand wheels which had become illegal nationwide since 1972 through the Right-hand Steering Drive Change -Over Act that made it an offence for anyone to import or use right-hand steering vehicle in the country as it constitutes hazardous practice for both the user and other road users," he added.

Fagbemi revealed that in the previous weeks, over three fatal accidents due to right-hand-drive occurred in Oyo State with over nine casualties recorded.

He revealed that the agency in a concerted effort with other security and safety agencies would commence the Operation-no-right-hand-drive with immediate effect across Oyo State.

He also disclosed that defaulters would be penalised in accordance with the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority Law, 2009.