The Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) has identified Guinness Nigeria Plc as setting the pace among other beverage companies under the Beer Sectoral Group (BSG) in the fight against drunk driving in the country.
Hyginus Omeje, Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, RS 2.1 Lagos Sector Command made the disclosure recently during the official flag-off of FRSC/Guinness Plc 2017 ‘’Responsible Drinking’’ ember months awareness campaign at Agege/Iju Motor Park in Lagos.
This year’s campaign marks the 13th edition of responsible drinking campaign among other collaboration/support between FRSC and Guinness as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility to the country and its customers.
In 2015, the Lagos FRSC took delivery of two digital to breathe living machine from Guinness which is being put to use to collate baseline data on Driving Under the Influence (DUI) in Lagos State. The evidence-based machine is capable of storing and printing the test result which could be used as evidence in court during prosecution.
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The FRSC Lagos State Sector Commander lamented that despite concerted efforts by the Corps and stakeholders in the Beer Sectoral Group, driving under the influence of alcohol has continued to pose a great risk on the highways, accounting for a significant percentage of crashes recorded.
Explaining reasons behind the company’s involvement in the annual safety awareness campaign as it affects drunk driving, Peter Ndegwa, Managing Director of Guinness Nigeria Limited, said that their obligation is to promote safety on our roads by not encouraging drinking and driving.
My message to the consumers and motorists is to know that driving and drinking do not mix. If going alone, go in a taxi; if you can’t take a taxi, stay at home and drink. I thank our patrons for partnering with us over the years and I believe it will continue to endure in the years to come”.
Emphasising that Guinness is committed to creating awareness of responsible drinking. Ndegwa said, “we are committed to achieving this through our customers, consumers and employers. Partnership is very important and that is why FRSC has come in. We have done it in the last 13 years”.
MIKE OCHONMA
