It’s An Offence To Drive With Earpiece In Nigeria – FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has informed Nigerians that
it is an offence to use mobile telephones in any form while behind
the wheel, including whether or not their devices carry hands-free
kits.

The warning came after a reporter for Premium Times was pulled
by the roadside by road safety marshals on Wednesday morning in
Abuja, and then he subsequently reached out to Bisi Kazeem, a
spokesperson for the FRSC, to clarify whether the rule existed or
the officers were being overzealous.

“It is an offence to use mobile telephones in any form” while
driving, Kazeem, told the news outlet.

Although the matter was resolved without a booking for traffic
offence, traffic officers warned that there would soon be a
nationwide clampdown on persons driving with earphones or other
hands-free devices.

The road safety has enforced its policy against direct use of
mobile telephones by drivers for several years, but most drivers
switched to hands-free as the most convenient way to circumvent the
offence, and traffic officers hardly pull drivers with
earphones.

“We have not started enforcing it, but it is an offence to drive
with earpiece because it is dangerous not only for the driver but
other road users,” a road safety chief confirmed.

It is believed that the delay in enforcing the policy in Nigeria
has led many to assume that the option was safe in Nigeria, and it
was even the first choice in a list on road safety tips for
drivers.

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