Sobering warning for Mombasa drivers

By STANLEY MWAHANGA

Do you drive while drunk? If you do, avoid Mombasa like a plague this holiday.

In a bid to curb the rising incidence of road accidents, Mombasa County Government has come up with an ingenious way of keeping drunk drivers off the road.

It plans to station ‘alcoblow police’ outside social and entertainment spots in a bid to discourage drunk driving.

Before they are allowed to steer their vehicles, patrons will be required to take a compulsory alcohol test to determine their fitness.

“As we are gear up for the festive season the county is trying to put up measures to reduce road carnage in the county.

alcohol level

“We want to introduce regular checks on night clubs and anyone found with high alcohol level in their breath will not be allowed to drive,” Mohamed Abass, county executive in charge of Transport and Infrastructure said.

And that’s not all, according to Mohamed Abass, county executive in charge of Transport and Infrastructure.

The county also plans to introduce a “yellow line”, where drivers will be required to walk in a straight line to prove they are sober before they are allowed to drive.

Addressing officials from the Kenya Urban Rural Authority (KURA) Abass said that flouting of traffic rules had become common in the county with most culprits being matatu drivers.

He warned that licences of drivers caught flouting the rules will be confiscated.  He also said that plans were underway to rehabilitate and install new traffic lights in the county.

needless deaths

This year alone 147 people have been killed in road accidents in the county. Coast traffic police chief, Martin Kariuki said another 317 sustained serious injuries, while 1,161 escaped with minor injuries.

Mr Kariuki warned motor cyclists to be careful on the road to avoid needless deaths and injuries.

He said cases of accidents involving motor bikes were on the rise in the region.

He also urged pedestrians to follow simple traffic rules to avert accidents saying most accidents were caused by ignorance of both passengers and drivers.

According to the police boss, out of the 147 people killed in road accidents, 69 of them were pedestrians, while 50 were passengers.