To reduce carnage on the roads occasioned by drink-driving, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Friday tested at least 30 drivers for alcohol and other intoxicants in some parks of major transport companies in Enugu metropolis.
Speaking at the end of the exercise, FRSC sector commander for Enugu, Mr. Ogbonnaya Kalu, said the exercise, which is tagged “No Alcohol” in parks, was part of the on-going Operation Zero Tolerance to Road Traffic Crashes.
“We are here to ensure that even as the vehicles in any transport company’s fleets are mechanically sound; the drivers of these vehicles are also sound in health – physically and mentally.
“FRSC says No Alcohol in our motor parks any longer. We are here selecting these drivers randomly and using the digitalised breathalyzers on them to check for alcohol or any intoxicant intake.
“So far, in the three big parks we had visited all the drivers are free-of-alcohol use as well as other intoxicants since the breathalyser automatically detect any iota of intoxication or alcohol use,” he said.
Continuing, he said, “We told the passengers that they are stakeholders in the safety business as well as their safe arrival to their destinations.
“They should speak out and caution their driver for any reckless driving or road misbehaviour. And if he is not taking corrections; they should report the misbehaving driver to the nearest FRSC marshal or law enforcement agency personnel on the road.”
Reacting, the manager of GUO Park in Enugu, Mr. Friday Nwazor, said the exercise was laudable, adding that it afforded the company to know the alcohol/intoxicant status of the drivers.
“I am happy that among my drivers, all proved negative on alcohol/intoxicant in their body stream. It is good testimony for the company and our esteemed customers/passengers,” he said.
