Nigeria Federal Road Safety Corps has made a new bi-law banning drivers from using earphones to receive or make calls while driving, adding that if caught the offender risks six months in prison.
The FRSC said it is therefore illegal to receive or make telephone calls while driving, regardless of any wireless gadget used for such communication.
It said the federal government agency would not even permit the use of AirPods, EarPods or any form of wired or wireless earphones and handsfree mode while driving.
According to FRSC Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem interview with Saturday PUNCH, driving requires total concentration and road users should not take any risk on their lives.
Quoting the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012, Kazeem said it is illegal to make calls or receive the same while driving.
His words: “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 calls 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.”
