The National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA) has improved surveillance measures to ensure road safety as Kenyans warm up during the festive season.
In a joint statement with the National Police Service (NPS) released on Tuesday, 22 December 2020, NTSA urged members of the public to comply with traffic laws in order to prevent accidents during that time.
The study of injuries continues to point to widespread road traffic offenses such as drinking and driving, overloading, speeding, driving exhaustion, use of improper vehicles, dangerous overtaking, lack of proper discipline, free-wheeling among other human-controllable causes,” the Agency’s statement reads in part.
The agencies have reported that they have made efforts to educate the general public about road safety initiatives through the Usalama Barabarani Program and Road Safety Mainstreaming in the public sector since the beginning of 2020.
However, despite the measures, road accidents increased by 9.4% this year, with 3.663 people succumbing to road accidents on 13 December 2020.
“As the festivities begin, we urge all road users to take precaution towards their own safety. On its part the government will continue with the nationwide law enforcement operations,” NTSA said.
The agencies announced that they would increase the number of highway and air patrols in order to ensure compliance with traffic rules and to ensure that other strict measures targeting drivers would be used to ensure compliance with various laws and regulations.
NTSA and NPS have introduced four steps that will be used to ensure safety:
- Licence Validity Verification
All motorists must ensure that their licenses are valid. Other documents to be validated include: PSV and Road Service Licenses (RSL) for public vehicles and Motor Vehicle Inspection Certificates for PSV and heavy commercial vehicles.
- Fleet Speed Monitoring
NTSA will track the fleet data for PSVs. Any vehicle driven past the prescribed time limit will be enforced and a prohibition order released. The owner and the driver of the vehicle shall be fined in compliance with the Traffic Act.
- Rout Compliance/ Short Term Licence and Night Travel Licence
PSV operators can only operate along their approved routes. Those that do not comply with the terms and conditions of the licences shall have the RSL revoked.
- Random Driver Checks
Impromptu checks shall be carried out along major highways.
The agencies urged Kenyans to schedule their journey properly and to be careful on the roads. They also encouraged members of the public to speak out about imprudent driving and, if possible, to contact NPS hotlines 999 and 112.