My office is overlooking a major road intersection (Azikiwe Road by East Street) in the city of Aba, Nigeria. From my window, I can look down and see what the traffic is. I can tell you that mostly in the evenings from 4pm down, this road intersection is anything but tidy. The attitude of most motorists and drivers make one wonder whether there is any common sense left anywhere. Sometimes I feel like shouting down from my window things like:
- Cant you wait a minute?
- Is that fair?
- Dont you value your life?
- Do you want to make your family and friends cry?
- Thats a big truck, cant you see it?
Some road users do not just care at all. For you to understand the craziness that happens in this road intersection, I will give you a background knowledge of its location, its traffic and road users attitude here.
Azikiwe Road by East - an important intersection
My office is located at 208 Azikiwe road Aba. I am on the first floor front, of the office building located right on the road intersection. I will share with you some of the images I took from my window as i made this post. But first, take a look at the Google Street View of this location below:
Screenshot from Google Street ViewHere is also a picture I took from my window of this same location after the morning rush period 11.05 am.
After morning rush hourWhy so Busy
The two roads that intersected here (Azikiwe road and East street) brings volumes of traffic from various parts of Aba city. Azikiwe road brings traffic from Asa road, Aba main park, Ariaria Int'l Market, and hundreds of smaller streets connecting to it.
East Street leads to Ngwa road, one of the most densely populated areas in Aba. The other end of it takes you to Ogbor hill, another very densely populated section of Aba. So the intersection of Azikiwe road and East street brings tremendous traffic from various parts of the city.
No thanks to the people that should do it, Azikiwe road by East with such heavy traffic does not have a traffic light. Again it deserves to have a large round-about, but unfortunately, it does not have one. So, this heavy volume of traffic is left to be controlled by a few sane, but mostly insane road users. The setting is perfect for craziness.
The Worst happens towards evening time
The questions I I felt like shouting down from my office window relates to the traffic situation from early evening. That is when you see a large number of road users. Everyone is rushing back from office, market, shop or somewhere else. The intersection is at the mercy of impatience. Nobody waits for anybody. Remember there is no traffic light, so no laws here.
Tricycles are the mostly used form of public transport. The operators are many and the most erratic. They put their vehicle anywhere there is little space, whether its a space left for pedestrians or an allowance left by a big truck negotiating the intersection. They take risks. They block anyone no matter the size of your vehicle. And when there is a gridlock which is common, they normally refuse to back out or reverse.
Rushing to somewhere, but going nowhereIts really terrible to watch the insanity from above - from my window. I get to see everything. The shouts, the blocks, the arguments, the risks, complete disorder. Not just the tricycle operators. Some drivers of different vehicles all contribute to the mayhem here.
..no stopping. Keep movingMy solution
There is only one solution here, given that the necessary infrastructures such as a big round-about and traffic lights are not there. The solution lies in the hand of these road users. So here is the solution:
- Be Patient and Wait
This is very difficult because everyone is in a hurry. It is also challenging because if you wait, the drivers behind you will shout at you and want to blow their horns hard on you. But be patient. Allow the traffic to flow and a little minute or two of waiting and allowing the other driver to pass will not hurt you.
And remember, you shouldnt act terrible just to make a point. Remember you have friends and family that will cry if you you get hurt in an accident. Dear road users that pass through Azikiwe road/East street intersection, lets do it right. Lets drive safe, to stay alive!!!!
Note: Unless otherwise indicated, all images are taken from my Infinix S5 mobile device.