More traffic laws in the offing as State cracks whip on errant operators

Kenya: The Government is formulating more laws to tame road carnage. Increased road accidents arise from human error on the roads which is responsible for 85 per cent of traffic accidents and more than 3,000 annul human fatalities.

According to Transport Principal Secretary Nduva Muli, the measures include new regulations for Public Service Vehicles (PSV), motorcycles and driving schools.

“The Government will not relent on its responsibility to create the right legal environment to stem the negative impact of road crashes,” Muli said.

He was speaking during the launch of this year’s Bamburi Cement road safety awareness campaign in Athi River. He singled out drivers who speed, drive carelessly or drive under the influence of alcohol for contributing to the majority of road accidents.

Undesignated points

The principal secretary observed, motorcyclists who ride without protective gears, overload and pedestrians who cross the road at undesignated points contribute the increasing road carnage.

“These are preventable acts that need and must change in order to save lives and prevent suffering. The campaign will create public awareness and contribute to behavioral changes,” he said.

Although the PSVs have been allowed to self regulate under the Saccos and transport companies, errant Saccos will be kicked out of the road. “I would like to warn the Saccos and companies who do not have night operating licenses not to be tempted to operate at night over the festive season as the consequences will be dire,” the principal secretary warned.

He observed that motorcycle regulations were currently with the office of the Attorney General. The new regulations require that anyone registering a motorcycle should have proof that the new owner will be supplied with two helmets and two reflector jackets. Also before the Attorney General are the new regulations on manpower that will require that driving schools meet certain minimum standards and deliver a specific curriculum.

Driving tests

Further, it will be the driving schools and not individuals who will apply for driving tests, putting the responsibility for quality of the students they are presenting for testing on driving schools. Meanwhile, the National Transport Safety Authority is working on regulations for heavy commercial vehicles with the view to introducing self regulation in the sub-sector.

The Government also seeks to promote the cash-less system in PSVs to improve service quality and instill discipline in the PSV sector.

He noted that the various measures to address road safety have yielded positive results, with a 10 per cent overall reduction of fatalities, with those from PSVs reducing by up to 25 per cent.