By Bose Adelaja & Augustina Anyaegbu

WEDNESDAY October 15, 2014 was observed as a horn-free day in Lagos State. Although this inaugural exercise recorded limited success, October 15 every year is now to be observed as a horn-free day in the state.

A release by the state government had informed that on this day motorists were expected to comply with traffic rules without tooting the horns of their motor vehicles. At the same time, other road users, including commuters and pedestrians, were to adhere to road signs without the prompting of vehicles’ horns.

Government said the idea is to encourage motorists to imbibe a driving culture that will go a long way in minimising lawlessness and recklessness among road users.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Kayode Opeifa, had earlier disclosed that the exercise will cover automobiles ranging from bicycles, tricycles(popularly called Keke), motorcycles(commonly known as Okada) and other types of vehicles which are required to be horn-silent the whole day.

Opeifa said encouraging motorists not to resort to horn blaring would help reduce noise pollution, while gradually sprouting a horn-free consciousness in the state.

But on D-Day, many motorists in Lagos gave the impression that they were not aware of the exercise or forgot about it. It was the usual tooting galore, especially during the morning and evening rush hours as motorists made haste to get to their destinations. This was more pronounced in the case of commercial vehicle drivers who displayed their usual impatience on encountering heavy traffic. Their response, predictably in most cases, was a quick resort to tooting their horns.

This development did not come as a surprise to many Lagos residents. Some believe that given the congestion and deeply entrenched chaos in Lagos, it was inconceivable to expect much compliance from motorists, especially given the known recklessness of commercial vehicle operators.

Some motorists who bared their minds on the issue said the exercise could only work in high brow areas like Lekki and Lagos Island. But they expressed strong reservations about its compliance in Lagos Mainland, Ikorodu, Alimosho and Agbado-Ijaye due to the low level of orientation by residents.

“How do you expect me to drive through Okokomaiko, Mile Two, Ajegunle-Boundary, Ikotun, Iyana Ipaja and not ‘blow’ horn? That one is not possible. Except you want me to hit somebody or another vehicle with my bus,” said the driver of a commercial bus popularly called danfo.

Some other drivers are of the view that for the horn-free culture to take root in Lagos State, government should first provide good road network, combat perennial gridlock on most roads and increase the level of awareness among residents.

Speaking with Vanguard Metro, VM, Vice Chairman Tricycle Owners and Operators Association, Comrade Buhari Moses, decried low awareness of the exercise among motorists.   ‘‘This kind of exercise can only work in foreign countries. The level of awareness is low in Nigeria, especially Lagos State which has a teeming population,’’ he said.

For Mr Gbenga Kolawole: ‘’That Lagosians should avoid horn throughout the day ? Remember, we are not talking of a siren but horn. What about some defiant drivers who do not obey road signs until one makes use of the horn ? I don’t think it can work except it is passed into law. Another option is to avoid fixing the gadget in the car because as you are talking to me now, I feel like using the horn,’’ he quipped.

A driving instructor, Mr Paul Oluwafemi, observed that a horn-free day under this cultural setting is a sheer waste of energy. ‘’It’s not workable because our culture does not permit that.

‘’We should put the road in order, earmark tracks for motorcyclists and pedestrians. Also, there is need to discontinue the use of vehicles which are out of shape, while a driving orientation should be put in place before embarking on a horn-free day,’’ he submitted.

In his own reaction, Emmanuel Anayo, an engineer, said: “It is absolutely impossible to drive without making use of horn because some drivers do not obey traffic rules. They are always in a hurry. They are equally inexperienced because some of them got their driving licences through the backdoor without going to driving school. ‘’Again, there are only few good roads here in Lagos, unlike abroad where roads are good and drivers are experienced and they do not make use of car horn.’’