Pernod Ricard Nigeria and the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, have jointly launched the “Don’t Drink and Drive” campaign to prevent road traffic crashes mortality rates during the yuletide season.
The campaign was held on Tuesday at the Ojota New Garage Bus Park, Lagos, to sensitize members of the National Union of Road Workers (NURTW) and many other road users to drive responsibly.
The Managing Director at Pernod Ricard Nigeria, Sola Oke, said the decision to sensitize road users on the need to abstain from drinking while driving is “timely” and “significant” because “many lives have been lost and many families left in pains because of this attitudinal dysfunction.”
Subsequently, he urged the motorists to be intentional about their alcohol intake, especially when driving, adding “taking alcohol to drive doesn’t make you a good driver but a stupid one.”
“The message is simple, you’re to drive responsibly and report anyone caught drinking while driving to the appropriate authorities.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Lagos has reported 101 persons dead while 625 sustained different degrees of injuries in road crashes in Lagos between January to August 2021.
Also, there is a record of 5,320 road crashes (Road Traffic Crashes) and 2,471 deaths in the first half of 2021 nationwide. Sadly, the thousands of lives lost every year include breadwinners, parents, siblings, children, family members, and friends.
“Hence, anything you consume that gets you intoxicated has its merits and disadvantages. So, we’re out to advise drivers that excessive drinking is bad,” Sola said.
In his remarks, the Zonal Commanding Officer FRSC, Anthony Daudu, said, “any driver caught driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or other psychotropic substance will pay a fine of N5,000, as contained in the FRSC traffic offenses.”
FRSC Lagos State Sector Commander, Olusegun Ogungbemide, ably represented by Deputy Corps Commander Cyril Matthew, highlighted the agency’s role in providing a safe environment for motorists.
In his goodwill message, he said, “FRSC is making efforts to say selling drinks in motor parks is forbidden. You must ensure that your colleagues do not leave the park to take a shot (alcohol) at a nearby joint. Anyone caught in the act would not be allowed to drive.”
The host, NURTW Chairman, Ojota Chapter, Comrade Ifeoluwa Adenusi, appreciated the organizers for the “timely” and “laudable” campaign noting that his members “are one of the exceptional drivers in the State” following their “low intake of alcohol” which was affirmed by the FRSC during its pre-testing.
Present at the occasion were Akin-George Fashola, Director of Vehicle Inspection Service, representing the Lagos Commissioner for Transport; NDLEA Asst. State Coordinator, Mrs. Titilope Ogunluyi, members of the Pernod Ricard Nigeria And FRSC, NURTW Lagos Chapter, among other guests.
