Instant fines to be introduced to check road carnage over the festive season

Instant fines will be imposed as part of wider measures to curb road accidents over the festive period.

Speaking earlier today during a one-day stakeholders consultative forum convened by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) at the Utalii Hotel, Nairobi, Traffic Police Commandant Fredrick Ochieng said arrangements have been made for enhanced reinforcement of traffic regulations on all highways and other major roads across the country.

These measures, he added, would involve teaming up with the courts to fine drivers on the spot once they break traffic rules, as well as using speed guns and breathalyzers to nab drunk drivers.

Noting that most of the fatal accidents occur at night, the traffic commandant said police officers will be deployed on the roads around the clock to enforce the law.

“We have made all the necessary arrangements to ensure adherence to traffic rules and regulations from Nairobi to Kisumu and Malaba, from Nairobi to Mombasa and all the other highways by ensuring physical presence of traffic police on a 24-hour basis,” stated Ochieng.

The forum brought together road safety players, police, road safety lobby groups, and public service vehicle operators, among others to address concerns over traditional high road carnage experienced every year.

The commandant also divulged that boda boda riders whom he said are to blame for a high number of fatal accidents through recklessness, are set to undergo fresh registration to align them with the areas they operate from.

This, he said, would include introducing additional numbers indicating the places they operate from so that it becomes easy to trace them in the event of an accident or misconduct.

Responding to concerns raised by the stakeholders regarding incidents of bribery of traffic police officers particularly by matatu operators, Ochieng said disciplinary measures were being taken on the culprits.

“I would also like to appeal to the vehicle owners to discourage their drivers from the practice as some of the operators have made it a habit to give bribes to the police even when their vehicles have no issues,” stated Ochieng.

The NTSA Director for Safety Andrew Kiplagat noted that historically most of the fatal road crashes occur over the Christmas season and reassured that the Authority will work with all the stakeholders in the sector to ensure road safety is maintained within the period.

Pointing out that speeding and drunkenness were among the major causes of killer accidents, the parties will work in partnership to see to it that traffic rules are not violated.

“We want all the stakeholders to commit that the necessary measures are taken to minimize accidents and deaths on the roads. Those who operate PSVs as well as heavy commercial vehicles must ensure they do not allow them on the roads if they are unroadworthy,” said Kiplagat.

David Kiarie, the Road Safety Association of Kenya Chairman said more than 5,000 lives have been lost on the roads since the beginning of the year and called on relevant government agencies to take decisive action to reduce the deaths, rather than pay lip service.

He observed that boda bodas and trucks account for many of the fatal crashes since majority of them do not undergo inspection, a thing that the safety associations have been complaining about for years.

“We have been having these meetings and accidents continue to increase. I would like this to be the last such meeting so that action is taken and next time we see the number of road fatalities going down,” quipped Kiarie.

He noted that from their records about 70 percent of the heavy trucks do not have speed limiters, yet they are involved in 60 percent of the road accidents.

Speed Governors and Road Safety Association Chairman Edward Gitonga said his team will carry out an exercise of rechecking the speed governors of an estimated 400,000 vehicles to confirm that they are compliant during the festivities.

The vehicle categories in the rechecking exercise which is free of charge includes PSVs, school buses, lorries and tourist passenger vehicles.