Yuletide: FRSC steps up nationwide Breathalyser checks

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Thursday, said it will intensify the conduct of breathalyser tests nationwide, as part its Operation Zero campaign, commencing from Dec. 15.

The Corps’ Public Education Officer (CPEO), Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM) Olusegun Ogungbemide, diaclosed this in an interview with our correspondent on Thursday in Abuja.

Our correspondent reports that a breathalyser test is one conducted mostly by traffic officers, using a device to measure the amount of alcohol in a person’s breath.

It estimates their Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) to determine if they are intoxicated, and is commonly used to check for drunk driving.

Ogungbemide said that the Corps had consistently used breathalysers to check drivers for alcohol consumption, inspite of public perceptions that the device was not in use.

He said breathalysers remained an established enforcement tool for assessing driver’s fitness, especially during the ember months when travel volume and crash risks were higher.

“The use of breathalysers has been one of the tools used by the Corps to confirm the status of drivers, either while at the park or while on transit, and this has been the tradition,” he said.

The spokesperson said that the Corps conducted targeted checks and could not test every driver on the road due to operational realities.

He noted that the tools cannot be applied on all drivers, adding that the corps had resorted to sampling.

“We pick at sampling randomly and confirm if drivers are under the influence of alcohol.

“Those that are under the influence of alcohol are booked accordingly, and this has been going on even right from the beginning of the year.

“Random sampling helps the Corps identify high-risk drivers without disrupting traffic flow or causing unnecessary delays for commuters,” he said

Ogungbemide said that the Corps had been monitoring driver behaviour throughout the year but would intensify checks as the festive period approaches, as drunk driving remained a major contributor to fatal crashes.

“So we are going to emphasise more as we enter this season, that is when we start Operation Zero on the Dec. 15, and I am very sure you will see more of it,” he added.

According to him, Operation Zero campaign will include increased patrols, stricter monitoring at parks, and enforcement activities aimed at reducing speed violations, night-time driving risks and alcohol-related crashes.