An Observation of Traffic Laws Violations by Motorists in Dutse Metropolis, Jigawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper is aimed at empirically studying traffic violations by motorists in Dutse Metropolis, Jigawa State, Nigeria. Using multi-stage cluster sampling, the city was divided into four areas, 160 motorists are observed and 40 more respondents are interviewed. The paper found that there is high rate of traffic violations among the motorists and it is leading to fatal accidents. The types of violation include, driving without wearing seatbelt, wrong overtaking, running red light or failing to stop while traffic warder instructs the motorists, speed up and following wrong lane. Among other reasons, traffic laws are violated by the drivers because of illiteracy, impatience, and lack of awareness, disobedience of law by people of all classes in the country, including law enforcement agents, and poverty. In order to reduce traffic violations, the paper suggested that, more awareness shall be created; rule of law must prevail; poverty shall be tackled; more formal surveillance system ought to be intensified, such Automated Traffic System and total policing, etc.