These Are The Duties and Functions of LASTMA, VIO and FRSC Officers

Many a time Nigerian road users fall victim of extortion of the law enforcement. Imagine a LASTMA official checking your car documents, this is not absurd but a slap on his employers. LASTMA officials are not meant to check neither are they to ask for car particulars. Ignorance is not an excuse in the court of law so its expedient one knows the duties of each law enforcement and try to decipher their modus operandi and what their line of duties.

There are 4 authorized law agencies which are mandated by law to regulate traffic, cars, and roads in Nigeria. While some are restricted to state roads, the rest are everywhere. For those in Lagos, the fear of LASTMA, VIO, FRSC and Police call for wisdom but most times due to the way we fear these folks, they act mostly on illegalities. For example, a video was trending on Twitter over the weekend between a LASTMA official and a Taxify driver, according to reports, the LASTMA officer asks for the driver’s documents and other items. What most drivers don’t know that this is not their duty, this is the duty reserved for FRSC and Police alone and not the LASTMA or VIO.

AutoReportNG decided its times to get our readers to enlighten on the duties of LASTMA, VIO, FRSC and Police on Nigerian highways.

LASTMA

Lagos State Traffic Management Authority is a Lagos State-owned agency under the ministry of transport. The agency was established in the year 2000 to transform the state transport system to ensure free flow of traffic in the state and also reduce road accidents. People usually pronounce “LASTMA” as “LASMA” instead of Last-ma

Responsibilities and Duties of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA)

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Control, Management and Regulation of traffic-related matters within Lagos Metropolis
• Public Education and Enlightenment of drivers and motorists on the proper use of the highways
• Traffic Safety and Accident Management
• Conduct research on drivers’ behaviors and traffic safety
• Install and maintain traffic control devices on the highways
• Relate with other traffic management agencies
• To develop a Culture of Regulation, control, and management of traffic operations statewide;
• To ensure hitch-free traffic flow on Lagos road;
• To develop the most efficient and effective means of bringing about safety improvement
• Co-operate with bodies agencies or groups engaged in road safety activities or in the prevention of accidents on the highways;
• Determine works and devices designed to improve traffic flow and advise the appropriate road works offices on the locations where such works and devices are required;
• Identify, develop, promote and maintain new or alternative methods of traffic management and road safety

Related: Yet Again, Many Injured As Two BRT Buses Collide In Ikorodu – Photos

VIS/VIO

Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) is a directorate in the Ministry of Transportation. The service is established to inspect, control regulate and enforce the roadworthiness of motor vehicles in the state.

Duties Of VIO

• Pre-registration inspection of vehicles
• Co-operating with other agencies to enforce traffic rules and regulations
• Providing accessible emergency services
• Co-operating with relevant agencies engaged in road safety activities or in the prevention of accidents on the highways
• Inspection and issuance of Road Worthiness Certificate (RWC) in respect of all vehicles
• Ensuring that all vehicles plying roads are roadworthy at all times
• Training and testing of applicants for driver’s license
• Training and testing of applicants for Rider’s Card;
• Carrying out inspection and issuing a report on accident vehicles in the State
• Preparing and keeping statutory registers and a database of all certificates issued and revoked

FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Commission is the Government Agency with statutory responsibilities for road safety administration in Nigeria. Founded in 1988, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) operates in all Nigerian states as well as the Federal Capital Territory and is the lead agency in Nigeria on road safety administration and management. The statutory functions include: Making the highways safe for motorists and other road users as well as checking roadworthiness of vehicles, recommending works and infrastructures to eliminate or minimize accidents on the highways and educating motorists and members of the public on the importance of road discipline on the highways.

Duties

• Making the highway safe for motorists and other road users.
• Recommending works and devices designed to eliminate or minimize accidents on the highways
• Educating motorists and members of the public on the importance of discipline on the highway.
• Preventing or minimizing accidents on the highway
• Clearing obstructions on any part of the highways
• Educating drivers, motorists and other members of the public generally on the proper use of the highways
• Designing and producing the driver’s license to be used by various categories of vehicle operators
• Determining, from time to time, the requirements to be satisfied by an applicant for a driver’s license
• Designing and producing vehicle number plates
• The standardization of highway traffic codes
• Giving prompt attention and care to victims of accidents
• Conducting researches into causes of motor accidents and methods of preventing them and putting into use the result of such researches
• Determining and enforcing speed limits for all categories of roads and vehicles and controlling the use of speed limiting devices
• Cooperating with bodies or agencies or groups in road safety activities or in the prevention of accidents on the highways
• Making regulations in pursuance of any of the functions assigned to the Corps by or under this Act.
• Regulating the use of sirens, flashers and beacon lights on vehicles other than ambulances and vehicles belonging to the Armed Forces, Nigeria Police, Fire Service, and other Para-military agencies
• Providing roadside and mobile clinics for the treatment of accident victims free of charge
• Regulating the use of mobile phones by motorists
• Regulating the use of seat belts and other safety devices
• Regulating the use of motorcycles on the highway
• Maintaining the validity period for drivers’ licenses which shall be three years subject to renewal at the expiration of the validity period
• In exercise of the functions, members of the Commission shall have the power to arrest and prosecute persons reasonably suspected of having committed any traffic offense.