Epe Residents Groan Over Ineffectual, ‘Confusing’ New Traffic Lights

By Babatunde Kaka.

Residents bemoan flagrant disregard for traffic light prompts by road users
Urgent measures need to be taken to avert tragic occurrence – Residents
Motorists demand deployment of traffic wardens to address the situation

Residents of Epe who ply the Ita-Opo axis of the Epe-Ijebu-Ode Expressway have expressed utter frustration over brazen disregard for prompts of the newly installed traffic light in the area, with motorists and pedestrians describing the situation as confusing.

Those affected by the development said the nature of the intersection coupled with the indiscriminate parking around the Court Hall, Ita-Opo has further aggravated the debilitating situation.

Ekohotblog gathered that the concerned road users had observed the workings of the traffic light since it commenced operation, stating that most road users are finding it difficult to understand the configuration of the traffic light and therefore suggest that prompt action must be taken to address the situation.

According to a resident who spoke with our correspondent, an urgent intervention is needed at the intersection to forestall tragic occurrence. She revealed that it only took the grace of God for multiple accidents to be averted as motorists threw caution into the air without obeying the traffic lights.

The pandemonium and confusion experienced, she said, was scary and therefore called on appropriate authorities to deploy Traffic Officials with immediate effect.

” Please we need quick intervention of the Police/Traffic Officers/LASTMA at Ita-Opo junction to avert dangers the traffic lights wrongly fixed are likely to cause.

“God forbid evil, if they cannot correct or put Traffic Officers there, then it’s better to remove them even though we appreciate having it. But with what I experienced at the junction yesterday, the Lord is our Shepherd”, she stated.

A female road side trader who’s familiar with the development also told Ekohotblog that most motorists get confused with the traffic lights as they are not used to such system. She lamented that despite the presence of the Traffic light, some motorists disregard it flagrantly. She also noted that the presence of Constabulary Police Officers helps a lot in enforcing the traffic lights but it becomes chaotic whenever they’re off duty, especially at night.

” Motorists, whenever they get to this intersection get confused with the traffic light because they are not used to it. Some of them don’t even obey the traffic light, they drive carelessly. Whenever the Constabulary Police Officers are here, they assist motorists by telling them the direction to go whenever the lights are on. But when you come here at night, it becomes chaotic. In order to instill discipline and sanity, LASTMA officials must be deployed here 24/7 to avoid accidents”, she averred.