The Nigerian Senate has passed amendments to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Act, significantly increasing penalties for various traffic violations. The bill, which saw fines rise by as much as 300%, aims to curb reckless driving and stop commercial activities like hawking or preaching within public transit vehicles.
Under the new legislation, individuals caught trading or preaching in commercial buses face a penalty of N50,000. Lawmakers emphasized that this measure is necessary to discourage motorists from treating highways like marketplaces, thereby reducing distractions that lead to accidents.
Other serious infractions have also seen substantial increases. Driving under the influence now carries a penalty of N100,000 or up to two years in prison, or both. Similarly, those who fail to follow traffic signals, disregard speed limits, or engage in reckless driving will now be fined N100,000. Refusing to cooperate with an FRSC officer during a breathalyzer test is punishable by a N50,000 fine or six months imprisonment.
The updated Act lists 52 specific offenses and will become enforceable once signed into law by the President. The FRSC has long argued that previous penalties were insufficient to act as a deterrent, and these higher costs are intended to foster safer road behavior across major urban areas like Abuja and Lagos.
