The Condemnable Acts of Cyclists, Motorists and Drivers -By Akogwu Egene, Esq.

‘You fool;’ ‘get out of my way;’ ‘are you mad?’ ‘Your father;’ ‘idiot;’ ‘commot for road;’ ‘I go crush you ooo!’
The above and many more are the degrading insults/comments address to Pedestrians by Cyclists, Motorists and Drivers, whenever Pedestrians attempt to use the road. Cyclist, Motorists and Drivers no longer regard the right of way of Pedestrians. Most times, they harass Pedestrians by unnecessarily blaring their vehicle horn to them, insulting them, and even speeding directly to them as though to knock them down, whenever Pedestrians are using the road. Cyclists, Motorists and Drivers now expect Pedestrians to stop using the road or at least they expect Pedestrians to run very fact, even faster than 100 metres racers, whenever they are crossing the road. Should it be so?

A curious mind may ask, don’t Pedestrians have the right of way?
It is trite law that Pedestrians like other road users have the right of way, that is, the right to use road by passing by or crossing. The rights of road users can be perused from the Highway Code, the Transportation Code, the Federal Road safety Commission Act, and etcetera. These laws apply to and give the right of road use to Animals, Pedestrians, Cyclists, Motorists and Drivers. But we are here concerned about the rights of Pedestrians. Rule 194 of the High Way Code provides: ‘allow Pedestrians plenty of time to cross and do not harass them by revving your engine or edging forward.’

The just cited Rule of the High Way Code gives Pedestrians the right to ‘plenty of time to cross’ and the right to be free from harassment from other road users.

To protect the right of Pedestrians to use the road, the law stipulates the making of ‘Zebra Crossing,’ ‘Control Signal,’ ‘Amber Light,’ ‘Bumps’ and other road signs. Thus, Rule 2 of the Highway Code says that other road users should look out for Pedestrians and slow down or stop for them to cross when they approach Zebra Crossing. And a Pedestrian facing a ‘Walk Signal’ may proceed across the road in the direction of the signal and the operator of a vehicle shall yield the right of way to the Pedestrian; Transportation Code, Section 552. ‘Allow Pedestrians to cross when the Amber Light is flashing;’ the Highway Code, Rule 196. But all these provisions of the law are ignored.

The government is to blame for the breach of the rights of Pedestrians on the road or at least the government has encouraged such breach. This is so as the government has failed to construct Zebra Crossing, Control Signal, Amber Light, Bumps and other road signs where they matter, save in few roads. As a result of this failure on the part of the government, other road users now have the mentality that Pedestrians do not have the right of way.

It is therefore suggested that the government, individuals, groups and well-meaning organizations should make Zebra Crossing, Control Signal, Amber Light, Bumps and other regulatory symbols on all roads that need them, such as Highways, major roads and all other busy roads, especially where people are resident in the area, schools are located thereat or businesses are carried out in the area. In the meantime, Cyclists, Motorists and Drivers should have a re-orientation by recognizing and acknowledging the rights of Pedestrians to use the road and avoid harassing and insulting them.

Akogwu Egene, Esq. is a young Legal Practitioner from Kogi State based in Ibadan, Oyo State; email: akogwuegene@gmail.com