The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has raised the alarm over increasing cases of drunk driving, with incidents reported as early as 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. in Cross River State.

The state FRSC Sector Commander, Innocent Etuk, said this when he visited the palace of the Obong of Calabar on Thursday.

Mr Etuk said recent patrols and breath tests by his men in the last three weeks revealed that many active drivers consumed alcohol between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. before picking passengers.

According to him, the trend endangers passengers, pedestrians and other road users across the state, describing drunk driving as a serious safety and public health issue.

”This act requires urgent mindset change among commercial drivers. The corps will intensify advocacy, enforcement and community engagement to address the menace.

“I also wish to stress the need for defensive driving and urge motorists to prioritise safety over profit because road crashes impose heavy emotional and financial burdens on families and government,” he said.

A member of the Obong’s council, Ekpenyong Okpo, urged the FRSC to improve on their equipment such as towing vans, to remove broken-down vehicles causing traffic obstruction and crashes on the roads.

Mr Okpo added that such facilities would not only enhance safety but also serve as a revenue generating machinery for the corps.

The Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, represented by Etubom Otu Otu,  a senior member of the Obong’s Council, commended the FRSC for engaging traditional institutions in promoting road safety.

He assured that their road safety messages would be taken to all the communities through the traditional rulers in the council who represented the various communities.

The highpoint of the visit was the handing over of a memento to the Obong of Calabar by the sector commander.

(NAN)