Tough new measures to tackle road carnage
In an effort to curb increasing number of road accidents, the government has introduced new measures requiring all school buses to undergo inspection before May 1. The Ministries of Transport and Interior have jointly issued a statement directing all educational institutions to have their vehicles inspected for mechanical soundness and functional speed limiters by the specified date.
Furthermore, the operating hours for school buses have been limited to between 6am and 7pm. The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has been instructed to halt the allocation of new routes to public service vehicle (PSV) operators to review existing routes. Night enforcement and random checks on highways will be intensified, with a focus on accident-prone areas. Stalled vehicles must be removed from roads at the owner’s expense, too.
Driver fatigue
Under the new regulations, vehicles operating without proper licenses will be impounded, and both the owner and driver will be charged according to the Traffic Act. Excess passengers, drivers, and conductors will also face detention and charges. The government urges the judiciary to impose the highest penalties on traffic offenders.
To address driver fatigue, strict adherence to the eight-hour working shift is mandated. Saccos whose drivers exceed the permitted working hours will face suspension of operator licenses and vehicle insurance.
Operators failing to meet vehicle standards and compliance requirements will also be suspended. Speed limiter vendors with poor performance will be suspended from fitting new devices until evaluated by the NTSA.
Regarding boda boda and pedestrian safety, county governments and the National Police Service are tasked with enforcing relevant sections of the Traffic Act. According to the Traffic (School Transport) Rules, overtaking school buses with extended stop signs will be prohibited, with violators facing fines up to Kes20,000 and possible license suspension.
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Overtaking school vehicle
School buses will also be equipped with stop sign arms and flashing red lights to indicate student embarkation or disembarkation.
“All drivers must stop and not attempt to overtake a school vehicle when the stop signal arm has been extended and the red light indicators on the uppermost part of the front and rear sides of the school vehicle are flashing. “Anyone who fails to stop is guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction in addition to any penal penalties having their driving licences suspended for a minimum period of six months,” read part of the proposal.
Proper signage will be ensured on roads within Nairobi and its environs. These measures aim to reduce road accidents, especially in Nairobi, as over 1200 lives have been lost to road accidents countrywide since January.
The government is expediting road construction projects and the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system rollout to improve traffic flow in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area.
“Fast-track the roll-out of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system to decongest the City and enhance seamless movement of people within the Nairobi Metropolitan Area,” Murkomen added.
