French Firm To Curb Frequent Road Crashes

Lagos State Command Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has partnered a French company, Pernod Ricard Nigeria, to curb frequent road crashes in Nigeria.

The sector commander of FRSC, Lagos State, Kehinde Hazmat identified the need to curb frequent road crashes in the state and national level even as he urged citizens to report cases of obstruction, road crashes, illicit acts on roads on the FRSC portal for immediate apprehension.

The sector commander pointed out the irresponsible use of sachet drinks by road drivers who practice drunk driving while he urged state and corridor commanders of the FRSC to accost such drivers engaging in such harmful drinking while on duty.

He mentioned that, to curb frequent road crashes in the country, there’s need for collaboration with the MDAs, FRSC, VIO and other agencies of government to identify the gaps to promote ‘Don’t Drink and Drive Campaign initiative’ to further ban irresponsible drinking of sachet drinks which the driver takes in large volume.

He affirmed that the FRSC emergency portal is meant to identify people who contravene road laws, while urging motorists to report drivers who engage in destructive behaviour.

He cited that, abuse of sachet drinks by a drunken driver should be reported on the portal while stating that the driver of such vehicle will be apprehended and accosted immediately after being reported on the portal.

“A driver should drive corporately, corridor commanders of the FRSC should arrest drivers who are reckless on federal and state roads. We now have a portal where cases of road emergency are reported, call the numbers of the FRSC officials to caution any infractions as we join hands to end frequent road crashes on our roads,”

Hazmat declared

Addressing his concerns on drivers buying petrol in Kegs, he urged passengers to report such drivers to the nearest office of the VIO, by visiting the portal of FRSC to report such cases to officials of the FRSC to apprehend such move and accost drivers who engage in such dastardly acts.

Hazmat commended the global French company, Pernod Ricard for the donation of two breathalyzer, reflectors, jacket and signpost to boost operational activities of the road safety commission. He added that the breathalyzer will check alcohol content in the body while ensuring that sanity is restored on our roads.

Earlier speaking, managing director of Pernod Ricard Nigeria, Michael Ehindero encouraged drivers to stay hydrated and tackle harmful consumption of alcohol. The global French company also stressed the need for responsible consumption of alcohol while urging motorists and drivers to maintain decent behavior as they commit to fight road crashes.

Ehindero, while speaking at the FRSC office in Ojodu Berger, Lagos reeled out figures of road crashes from the FRSC, stating that, traffic crashes remain a significant and ongoing challenge, leading to the loss of many lives of 2,674 road crashes, 1,471 deaths, and 8,659 injuries in the first quarter of 2024. He said

He said it is against this backdrop Pernod Ricard Nigeria, a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard, the producer of wines and spirits, have decided to launch this initiative.

The campaign, themed: ‘Safe Roads,’ is being implemented in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and aims to help drivers and other road users understand the negative effects of drink-driving, promoting responsible and positive choices during the festive seasons and beyond.