NTSA launch 24 hour watch on black spots as Christmas rush beckons

National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) Coast Regional Deputy manager John Jiinja Parteroi with officers from Likoni Police Station and Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) during a joint sensitization exercise at Likoni Caltex stage in Mombasa County. [Kelvin Karani, Standard]

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has deployed its officers along black spots areas along all major highways to cub road crush accidents that have so far claimed 4,282 people this year.

The traffic officers and NTSA will be on the roads 24 hours including the night to impound on reckless drivers.

NTSA in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropist for Road Initiative kicked off the ‘Punguza Kasi, Okoa Maisha’ campaign at the Coast region against over speeding.

According to the Mombasa road safety report 2019-2022, Mombasa-Nairobi Road, Mombasa-Malindi Road, Links Road, Likoni-Ukunda Road, Port Reitz-Airport Road and Shelly Beach Road were identified as fatal corridors.

NTSA Coast region deputy manager, John Parteroi, said that 4282 Kenyans have perished this year from road crushes majorly because of speeding.

Parteroi said they have identified black spots along the Kilifi Malindi Highway, Nairobi Mombasa Highway and Dongo Kundu bypass.

He said that NTSA officers will be out day and night to monitor over-speeding vehicles.

“We have identified black spots at Kijipwa along Kilifi -Malindi Highway. The road is well done so the vehicles over speed. Our officers will be on the road all night along major Highways where we have identified black spots along the Nairobi Mombasa Highway and Kilifi Malindi Highway,” said Parteroi.

NTSA and Bloomberg visited different matatus stages in Mombasa to sign commitments with drivers to adhere to road safety and reducing speed during the festivities.

Speaking to drivers at the Likoni ferry stage, Parteroi said that 1600 pedestrians also lost their lives as a result of careless driving while 800 people died from bodaboda crushes.  

“We are here to enlighten the drivers using the Kwale Lungalunga road that this is a dangerous season and drivers should stop drunk driving and over speeding,” said Parteroi.

He also banned private vehicles against ferrying passengers and warned that those found will be arrested and prosecuted in court.

The Matatu operators accused the private cars of taking all the passengers while they ply the route empty and yet the private cars are not registered to engage and carry passengers.

“Those allowed to carry passengers are Passenger Service Vehicles (PSV) like minibus, 14 seater matatus, buses, taxis and Uber. Personal vehicles are not allowed,” said Parteroi.

He acknowledged that the private vehicles are a problem and promised to address the matter.

However, Parteroi blamed the PSV of running away whenever they are asked to come for inspection.

“Most of the matatus run away and hide during the inspections because they do not meet the road safety requirements. So this gives leeway to the private car owners because people have to travel but we shall address this matter immediately,” said Parteroi.

Likoni matatu stage chairman, Duncan Mwaro, said that private cars and pro-box have been taking all passengers and carrying excess.

“We ask for your intervention. The private vehicles are hurting our business. Pro-box and private are doing a lot of PSV work yet we are the ones getting arrested and paying for PSV license,” said Mwaro