The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced plans to intensify nationwide breathalyser checks as part of its annual Operation Zero safety drive scheduled to begin on Dec. 15.
Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide, the Corps’ Public Education Officer, revealed the update on Thursday in Abuja. He explained that despite assumptions from some members of the public, the device had remained a routine enforcement tool for assessing drivers’ alcohol levels.
A breathalyser test measures alcohol concentration from a person’s breath, helping officers determine if a driver is impaired.
Ogungbemide stated that the Corps had maintained regular use of the equipment to detect drunk driving, especially during the high-risk ember months when road traffic increases significantly.
“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.
He noted that although the agency could not test every motorist due to operational limits, it conducts strategic checks by randomly selecting drivers for screening.
“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.
The FRSC spokesperson added that as the festive season approaches, the Corps will scale up its monitoring efforts, as alcohol-related violations continue to contribute to severe road crashes.
“So we are going to emphasise more as we enter this season, that is when we start Operation Zero on Dec. 15, and I am very sure you will see more of it,” he added.
He further stated that Operation Zero would feature expanded patrols, heightened vigilance at motor parks, and firm enforcement targeting excessive speed, risky night travel and alcohol-induced crashes.
