The Federal Road Safety Corps and Nigerian Breweries Plc have enjoined the public to desist from drinking while driving.
The FRSC and Nigerian Breweries Plc stated this on Thursday during the flag off of the 10th edition of: “Don’t Drink and Drive” campaign in Lagos.
The Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, who was represented by Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Public Education Officer, commended Nigerian Breweries for its consistency and for the effort in helping to curtail the menace of road crashes in the country.
Oyeyemi also commended the company for ensuring that the roads are safe through “responsible drinking habits among drivers”.
Oyeyemi posited that road safety involves the collective effort of everyone.
He lamented the fact that “alcohol-related road traffic crashes” have continued to gain prominence over the years.
He called on drivers to limit their intake of alcoholic beverages when driving so that they can perform their duties very well.
He said: “We should know that alcohol, when taken above recommended limits, reduces our sense of judgement as a vehicle driver and often results to speed limit violation for a driver who is driving under the influence of alcohol, in addition to other road vices. Speed limit violation is a related factor to drunk driving because when a driver goes above the specified alcohol limit, the tendency is for him to accelerate above recommended speed limit.”
Oyeyemi stressed the need for drivers to obtain the speed limiting device so as to mitigate the scourge of speed-related road crashes in the country.
He disclosed that a total of 165,040 commercial vehicles were stopped for routine check from February 1, 2017 to September 20, 2017 and 66,774 vehicles were installed with the speed limiting device, which translates to 40.5 per cent compliance.
Oyeyemi also stated that 2,143 persons have been referred to various hospitals for psychiatric evaluation from June 30, 2017 till date.
He also enjoined persons who have applied for drivers’ licence and have trouble obtaining it to simply call or send an SMS to: 08150654567 and 08058298826, to get the status of their cards or to know where they can pick them up if are ready.
The FRSC boss further reiterated that the FRSC is determined to reduce the high rate of road crashes in the country, especially during the ember period, and he also appealed to all road users to ensure that they comply with traffic laws.
The Corporate Affairs Adviser of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Kufre Ekanem, who briefed newsmen on the significance of the partnership with FRSC to promote a safer road for Nigerians, stated that the company as a responsible entity is truly using its corporate social responsibility programme to touch the lives of Nigerians as the “Don’t Drink and Drive” campaign has been in existence for 10 years.
Ekanem said: “Don’t Drink and Drive campaign is a social responsibility initiative designed to improve safety of Nigerian roads through discouraging the habit of drink driving, especially among commercial drivers and riders, young people with access to cars and private car owners/drivers.
“The sustenance of this initiative for 10 years is no doubt a demonstration of our commitment to the promotion of safety on Nigerian roads.”
Ekanem pointed out that the campaign is a “major pillar” of the organisation’s “Responsible Consumption Campaign” and the campaign will help to protect water resources, reducing CO2 emissions, sourcing sustainably, advocating responsible consumption, promoting health and safety and also growing with the communities.
The Eagle Online reports that as part of the activities lined up for the campaign, there will be mega rallies that will involve the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers, Road Rransport Employers Association of Nigeria, Tanker Drivers, Luxury Bus Drivers, Keke and Okada riders and non-governmental organisations that focus on the transport sector.
The three cities which have been selected for the mega rallies this year are: FCT, Enugu and Lagos.
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