AN APPRAISAL OF ROAD TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Appraisal of Road Traffic Enforcement Operations in Lagos State, Nigeria was the main focus of the study. It examined the effect of road traffic enforcement officers’ behavior on road users compliance to road traffic laws, identified the compliance level of road traffic enforcement officers to laws governing their operations, determined if road traffic enforcement officers are biased in their manner of operations in the study area. The study was done in Lagos State. Commuters in Lagos State formed the population of the study while two hundred and thirteen (213) respondents were purposively chosen. Percentage frequency and multiple regression analysis were adopted for analytical purpose. It was discovered that most FRSC officers are always properly dressed, some are insultive and at times brutalize drivers. It was also revealed that some road traffic officers collect bribe and are corrupt at same time, arbitrary abuse of power, though they take good care of crash victims recover monies and other properties which are returned to accident victims.   With, R² = 0.784 and R = 0.885, extent to which some ‘FRSC officers are always properly dressed, FRSC officers are always raking of alcohol while on duty, some FRSC officers are abusive and some FRSC Officers brutalize road users particularly drivers’ explained the variation in FRSC officers’ behaviors influencing road users’ compliance to traffic rule was 78 percent. Furthermore, F value = 188.001, P = 0.000 < 0.05, affirmatively states that road traffic officers’ behavior had effect on road users compliance to road traffic laws. As such, there is need for correction of anomalies in road traffic law enforcement agencies operations in Nigeria by restructuring, re-strategizing and re-orientation of staff.