FRSC to enforce compulsory alcohol test on drivers

THE Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has disclosed plans to acquire breathalysers for compulsory test on drivers as part of the effort to curtail driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Corps Marshal of FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi,  made this known at a meeting with a team of Beer Sectoral Group (BSG) led by its chairman, Mr Jordi Borrut-Bel, to discuss the implementation process of the scheme.

He said this was in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which would ensure the provision of breathalysers  to enable the corps run a pilot scheme on its patrol teams within Kaduna State Command, Lagos state Command and River State Command.

Oyeyemi said the corps had designed the commencement of the pilot scheme to focus on training of FRSC personnel on driving under the influence (DUI) projects, acquisition and deployment of breathalyser   for testing DUI, enforcement of DUI by field operatives, and monitoring of enforcement of DUI.

Other aspects of the programme of action are: commencement of Drive Alcohol Free (DAF) campaign, FRSC/BSG to meet with FRSC stakeholders in the DAF campaign, FRSC/BSG to conduct survey in the six geopolitical zones on DAF campaign, enlightenment of drivers and other road users on the dangers of drunk driving, deployment of billboards on strategic routes across the country with “don’t drink and drive” messages.

In his address, chairman of BSG assured the corps of their readiness to comply with FRSC standards and lead by example by preaching the need to install speed limiters to their members. He equally assured of the continuous collaboration with FRSC to campaign against drunk driving.

The chairman thanked the corps for its different programmes aimed at keeping the roads safe, and assured that they, as a body, would ensure members’ strict adherence to safety rules.