Use Earphones While Driving, Risk Six Months In Jail – FRSC Tells Oyo Motorists

The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has warned motorists in Oyo State and beyond to desist from making or receiving calls with AirPods, EarPods or any form of wired or wireless earphones and handsfree mode while driving adding that if caught doing such, the offender is liable to a six months jail term.

Speaking during an interview with newsmen on Saturday, FRSC Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem said driving requires total concentration and road users should not take any risk on their lives.

He said it is illegal to make calls or receive same while driving, according to the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012.

Kazeem said, “It is illegal. Driving entails 100 per cent concentration so you cannot be distracted. It is there in the regulation.

“It is clear from the provisions of Reg 166 (1) that it is illegal to make a phone call using EarPods, earphones or whatever means.

“It is also clear that phone call is not restricted to a telephone conversation between two or more people.

“Anything that will distract you while driving must be avoided. When we do public enlightenment, we even discourage drivers from talking to passengers which could cause distraction.

“The law may not make it an offence but at the same time, it can distract you, even changing your cassette (while driving) can distract you and result in an accident”, he said.