The Lagos State Government on Friday said it would soon commence random checks to determine the alcohol level in commercial bus drivers. Governor Babatunde Fashola made the disclosure at the launch of the Lagos Motor Park Health and Safety Initiative at the Ojota Motor Park.
He explained that the innovation was part of strategies to reduce road accidents, and noted that drink driving accounted for a significant number of deaths on the roads.
Fashola said that his administration was poised to confront the dangers posed to road users by alcoholic drivers.
Reports said the governor also launched the “Breathalyzer,”? a device used? to monitor the alcohol content of the blood.
“We are launching today? the Breathalyzer which we are going to use to monitor? and determine the alcohol level in drivers, starting with the commercial drivers? before they can be allowed to drive,” he said.
Fashola said there was substantial evidence that accidents were influenced, induced and precipitated by substance abuse, including drugs and alcohol, which impaired the ability of the driver to manipulate automobiles.
“The automobile is not a toy; not only do you need the skills to drive it, you also need to be aware and alert to ensure your safety and that of other road users,” he said.
Fashola stated that the thrust of the motor park health initiative was to increase health awareness aWmong transporters and encourage them to embrace tips that would help them? to do their work safely.
Also speaking, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Mr Jide Idris, said the Breathalyzer would? be used at random on drivers by traffic agents at the pilot stage.
He said it would later be made compulsory through the enactment of the appropriate legislation.
Idris urged drivers to apply safety precautions at all times, saying the government was committed to ensuring safety on the road through enforcement, enlightenment and? partnerships with major stakeholders, including transporters.(NAN)