Dropping Refuse From Moving Vehicles Attracts N5000 Fine

The Lagos State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has warned commuters against throwing waste out of moving vehicles, saying it could cause accident.

An officer of the command, SP Adedotun Abayomi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ago Palace Way area of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area that it was a bad habit that could lead to accidents and maybe, fatalities.

He spoke against the backdrop of a quarrel between a commercial bus driver and a private car owner whose vehicle was affected when a passenger in the bus threw out of the window a black nylon bag containing the waste of what she had consumed.

The said bag fell on the windscreen of Mr Chinedu Okafor’s car which almost caused an accident.

The FRSC official, an Assistant Patrol Commander, said that it was wrong for people to drop things off from a moving vehicle because it was likely to cause accident.

“Dropping off things from a moving vehicle is totally wrong and it is an offence known as “Failure to cover unstable materials’’, and it comes with N5,000 fine.

“People need to stop throwing things off moving vehicles, drivers should encourage their passengers use the dustbin in the vehicle instead of throwing them out,’’ he said.

Okafor, who struggled to control his car when the object hit his windshield, told NAN he was sad about the development and advised people to stop the habit of dropping off waste from vehicles.

“It is becoming a norm for people to drop things off while in a moving vehicle. It almost caused an accident for me today.

“These days you see people throwing what they have eaten off their vehicles, sometimes it is sachet of water, gala nylon, or even empty water bottle and so on.

“Everyone should cultivate the habit of putting dirt in the dustbin of the vehicle to avoid dropping them off which may cause accident and litter the environment,’’ he said.

Miss Bisi Kunle, a passerby also told NAN that she was disappointed anytime she saw someone dropping off things from a moving vehicle.

“l feel sad seeing such. The other day, someone spit on me from a moving vehicle.

“I am sure that it is a bad habit to drop off things but I doubt if the punishment is effective because people see it as a normal thing to do.

“Therefore, the government should try to look into this matter and punish any defaulter so that people will stop such habit,’’ she said.