Lagos CP to impound ambulances driving against traffic

Etim Ekpimah

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Hakeem Odumosu, on Monday said the police would impound ambulances driving against traffic or applying BRT corridors.

A statement by the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Matilda Umiah Ngbaronye, said this follows the continual disregard of traffic regulations and nonchalant attitudes of the ambulance drivers in the state.

Odumosu in the statement warned that on no account should ambulances with or without patients drive against traffic or seen plying the BRT lane.

“The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has surprisingly noticed the continual disregard to traffic regulations and nonchalant attitudes of ambulance drivers, who in total disregard to his earlier sensitization on adherence to state traffic laws, have continued to drive against traffic as well as recklessly plying the BRT corridors.

“The Commissioner of Police hereby warns that on no account should ambulances with or without patients drive against traffic or on the BRT lane.

“Ambulances are allowed the use of sirens and revolving lights to enable them manoeuvre their way in traffic gridlocks,” the statement read.

Umiah-Ngbaronye added that the CP warns that impoundment of ambulances who flout traffic rules have started and it will continue without stopping.

According to her, Odumosu advised ambulance operators, who must ply the BRT lanes, to seek and obtain approval from the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA.

The CP also warned health care providers, who use ambulances and are fond of plying BRT lanes and driving against traffic to desist from flouting traffic rules or face impoundment, noting that their actions negate section 111 of Lagos State Traffic Law 2018. She said: “Police would not fold its arm when this law is being violated with impunity by members of the public that have penchant for breaking the law.”