The Senate has passed an amendment to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Act, proposing tougher penalties for a range of traffic offences as part of efforts to improve road safety and strengthen compliance with traffic regulations.

One of the major provisions of the amendment bill introduces a ₦100,000 fine for motorists who fail to obey traffic lights, road signs, road markings, or other traffic control devices.

The proposed amendment also prescribes a ₦50,000 fine for individuals caught hawking, trading, or preaching inside commercial buses.

The bill further seeks to impose stiffer sanctions for driving under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating drugs. If signed into law, offenders could face a ₦100,000 fine, up to two years’ imprisonment, or both, replacing the current ₦5,000 penalty in the existing Act.

Drivers who refuse to cooperate with FRSC officials during roadside breath tests conducted on reasonable suspicion of intoxication would also be liable to a ₦50,000 fine, a six-month prison sentence, or both.

The amendment also targets speeding and dangerous driving. Speed limit violations would attract a ₦100,000 fine, while reckless driving could be punished with a ₦100,000 fine, imprisonment for up to two years, or both, depending on the circumstances of the offence.

According to lawmakers, the proposed amendment is designed to modernise the FRSC Act, strengthen the Corps’ enforcement powers, and promote greater adherence to traffic regulations in a bid to reduce road crashes and improve safety on Nigerian roads.

The bill, however, has yet to become law. It must receive presidential assent before the proposed penalties and enforcement measures can take effect nationwide. (The Nation)