Professor Muse Olayinka Solanke, the Dean of Administration and Management Sciences in the Department of Transport Management, has advised traffic agencies in Ogun State to cease the practice of chasing vehicles that commit offenses on the highway.
Professor Solanke expressed concerns that this traditional approach could lead to severe traffic crashes, resulting in harm to the offender, pursuers, and bystanders.
The Dean delivered this counsel during his role as the guest speaker at the 8th Annual TRACE Commanders Conference and Retreat for senior officers.
The event took place at the Valley View Auditorium in Isale Igbeyin, Abeokuta, on a Tuesday.
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Suggesting a more modern and efficient method, Professor Solanke recommended that instead of pursuing traffic offenders with vehicles, the state government should embrace digital solutions.
He proposed employing technology to track the vehicles of traffic offenders, enabling law enforcement to apprehend them at convenient locations.
Furthermore, he endorsed the idea of registering all private and commercial vehicles under government supervision, including the location details of individual car owners, for easier identification in case of criminal activities.
Encouraging a forward-thinking approach, Professor Solanke urged Ogun State to adopt innovative measures similar to advanced countries for enhancing the enforcement and prosecution of traffic laws.
In response, Commander Sanni Ogunyemi of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps acknowledged the need for additional personnel to strengthen their activities.
Despite TRACE being in operation for 18 years, the number of officers is currently less than six hundred and fifty.
Commander Ogunyemi reported a significant reduction in road traffic crashes from 2021 to 2023 to be 13.3 percent, attributing the improvement to the hard work of TRACE officers.
He highlighted their commitment to further minimizing accidents, including the decision not to permit annual leave for officers after August to prevent road crashes, particularly during the ember months when incidents tend to increase.
The Commander identified excessive speed as a major cause of road traffic accidents, emphasizing that his officers are vigilant in apprehending anyone over-speeding on the state highway.
Additionally, he pointed out that many drivers lack proper orientation regarding road usage and parking, issues his officers address when making arrests.
In light of the upcoming festive period, Commander Ogunyemi advised residents of the state to avoid night driving due to potential delays in TRACE responding to traffic calls during nighttime unlike the 15 minutes quick response in the day.
He underscored the importance of his officials’ training in human relations on the highway, but cautioned that in the event of an accident at night, there might be challenges reaching someone for assistance due to fewer people being around during that period.
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