Misuse of Siren on Road Traffic in Nigeria

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Siren is a device that makes a loud prolonged signal or warning sound use on road alerting the environment, to warn other drivers and pedestrians of the approach of an emergency vehicle and request the right-of-way. This is used by the authorized users on the road traffic such as state institutions and government officials (the President, Vice President, State Governors and Deputy Governors, Senate President, the Deputy Senate President, the Speaker of House of Representatives etc), hospital ambulances, security companies, bullion vans etc. The siren device must be operated in order to meet the legal definition of that emergency that occurred according to the provision of the law. It has been observed that the misuse of siren by both authorized and unauthorized persons has become a nuisance to law abiding citizen, through madness of blaring sirens indiscriminately by the privileged Government officials, Police force and wealthy people, even criminals. People are very upset by this bullying approach in situations like stuck traffic and keep seeing this repeated abuse of privileged because is not a right, in other to get out of traffic without obeying the rules, have made some people don’t move their cars when they hear these deliberate sirens being used, or pretend that their cars are giving troubles as means of expressing their instinct in abuse of the road traffic as a means of correcting the imbalance, whereas creating more havoc to road traffic congestion. It is common in our sight today on road, to see motorists meandering their way through traffic with the aid of this unlawful use of sirens hence, on the process to beat traffic or to avoid following the queues, thereby causing traffic congestion and inconvenience to other road users. This flow of traffic with sirens upset public peace in the major cities of the country today. Even the rural areas are not even safe as far as sirens illegal use is concerned, causing the major noise pollution which on the other hand causes disorderliness and commotion as seen on expressways, at times, these unlawful siren users cause road accidents as they usually infringe other motorists and pedestrians and break traffic laws at will, Standard Measures Needed To Be Taken In order to stop this unwanted act on our road traffic today, all the vehicles on the road must be abide by the road traffic rules and regulation except when on emergency for the emergency vehicles by the rules governing them hence, some precautions are need to be taken which are as follows:- Road traffic policies should apply to all vehicle operations on the road, including emergency response of the siren which are expected to comply with all applicable traffic laws, as well as safety policies and standard operating procedures at all times. State traffic laws and the Federal Road Safety Commission that made specific provisions for emergency siren vehicles, should adhere to make sure that standard operating procedures is followed according to the traffic law. Responding to emergency siren does not in any manner reduce the responsibility to operate emergency siren vehicles safely; inappropriate speed and reckless driving should be avoided. Operating emergency siren vehicles in opposing traffic lanes (one lane) is extremely hazardous under all conditions and should only be considered under exceptional circumstances (i.e., if there is no alternate route of passing). In the area or situation where emergency siren vehicles are not permitted and not authorized to use by privately owned vehicles, should be avoided if caught, should be arrested by the Police or the Federal Road Safety Commission irrespective of their status.

Conclusion

This misuse of sirens is one of the cultures of self-mystification in the country and should be condemned in strong terms. Many see it as a way of showing affluence and social status but I call it inhumanity of man against man, the police should enforce the order and stop extorting money from those who disregard the regulations, and allow them to go Scot free. I will be glad to embrace any directive that can help reduce to the barest minimum the chaos of this indiscriminate use of sirens for the general well-being of the people. We need intervention because this misuse of siren situation is extremely going out of hand. Government need to bring this to a halt if we must have a serene and orderly society

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