The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has issued a stern warning to celebrities, social media influencers, content creators and the general public that public roads are not filming locations, following the viral circulation of a video showing popular TikTok personality Habeeb “Peller” Hamzat engaging in distracted driving moments before a road crash in Lagos.
Corps Marshal Mallam Shehu Mohammed emphasised that engaging in live streaming, recording or other forms of content creation while operating a vehicle is dangerous, unlawful and a violation of traffic laws designed to protect road users. Such conduct, the FRSC noted, significantly increases the risk of accidents and endangers lives on busy highways.
The warning was prompted by a widely shared video that showed Peller livestreaming from his vehicle on the Lekki–Epe Expressway, an act that preceded a high‑profile crash. In response, the FRSC directed its Lagos State Sector Commander to commence legal action against individuals found engaging in reckless or distracted driving, including use of mobile phones at the wheel. The Corps Marshal underscored that no level of online fame or social media popularity exempts anyone from strict compliance with road safety regulations. He also called on entertainment associations, influencers’ networks and actor guilds to educate their members on responsible behaviour and road safety advocacy, stressing that celebrities should model safe conduct rather than risky stunts.
Traffic safety advocates have welcomed the FRSC’s firm stance, saying it may help curb a worrying trend in which public roads are misused for content creation, often overshadowing legitimate safety efforts to reduce crashes and fatalities. The warning reinforces the message that public roads are shared spaces governed by the law and not settings for entertainment or promotional material.
