The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Pernod Ricard Nigeria, a wine and spirits producer, have pledged to reduce alcohol-induced road accidents through public enlightenment.
They made the promise at a Don’t Drink and Drive campaign town hall meeting aimed at sensitising motorists against driving under alcohol influence.
The FRSC Lagos Sector Commander, Corps Commander Kehinde Hamzat, said that FRSC had deployed different approaches, including public enlightenment, to tackle drunk driving.
According to Hamzat, FRSC also persuades motorists and then goes for subtle enforcement after which it embarks on full enforcement .
`’This week, we have placed safety checklists, where tickets issued will not attract financial penalty.
“We will only let members of the public to know their defects and give them checklists for them to do the needful.
“We also go to motor parks to enlighten motorists on the need to put their vehicles in order and then urge them not to drink and drive.
“We also go to churches, mosques,” he said.
The sector commander expressed worry that there were drunks and drunkards at some worship centres.
“We go there to talk to them about the menace of drunk driving,” he said.
He said that the campaign might be carried out quarterly.
“Also like the FRSC app, it is a means of carrying people along so that you can communicate and relate information about what is happening along the road.
`’Reports got through the mobile app are kept confidential,” he, however, said.
The Managing Director of Pernod Ricard Nigeria, Mr Michael Ehindero, said that the rate of road accidents still remained high in Nigeria and should be curtailed.
According to Ehindero, the Don’t Drink and Drive campaign was important and could save lives.
“The major reason for road crashes is drinking under the influence of alcohol, drugs and others, and its against this background that we are partnering with FRSC to launch this initiative.
“The Don’t Drink and Drive campaign (Safe Road) is geared toward helping drivers and other road users to understand the dangers of drinking while driving especially during festive periods,” he said.
He gave the assurance that Pernod Ricard Nigeria was committed to fighting alcohol misuse.
“I urge all participants to pledge not to drink and drive and advise them to act responsibly while on the road.
“I have a strong belief that by partnering with FRSC and other stakeholders present, we will be able to achieve the initiative’s goals.
“Pernod Ricard Nigeria aspires to create a more convivial environment that places paramount importance on safety of the people and a world without excessive drinking,” he said.
Mr Usman Teslim, the Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Lagos State Chapter, said that a professional driver should not drink while on duty.
“The negative results of drinking while on duty are enormous: it takes control of the brain, slows down decision making, makes one to misbehave and others,” he said.
Other dignitaries present at the meeting include representatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Service, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Federal Roads Maintenance Agency.