Roads CS Kipchumba Murkomen said Tuesday that In the last couple of weeks, Kenya has witnessed preventable deaths through tragic road crashes.
“I take this opportunity to condole with the families and friends of the people we have lost on our roads and wish a quick recovery to those recuperating in hospitals,” said Murkomen.
The Roads CS spoke during an inter-ministerial briefing on the state of road safety in the country.
Murkomen said road crashes cause immense suffering to the affected families, and every possible measure must be taken to stop the carnage.
“A vast majority of these accidents are preventable if road users change their behaviour. Actions such as speeding, dangerous overtaking, drunken driving, overloading, driver fatigue and crossing roads without due care are common causes of road crashes,” he said.
Every road user, Murkomen said, must be aware of the consequences of their actions.
Over and above this, he said, they must take responsibility for their safety and that of others.
The Ministry of Roads and Transport, alongside the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, the minister said, continues to step up efforts through a multi-pronged strategy with special attention to public education and risk-targeted enforcement.
Evidence-based enforcement targeting risk factors with the support of technology has been on:
1. Speed monitoring of PSVs and commercial vehicles
2. Enforcement on overloading of goods and excess passengers
3. Weeding out PSV contravening licensed routes
4. Conducting anti-drink driving operations
5. Removal of unlawful lights on motor vehicles
6. Verification of NTSA-issued licences, including Driving Licences and Road Service Licences
7. Weeding out unroadworthy vehicles, and
8. PSV Sacco compliance assessment
Additionally, the CS said, that two weeks ago, his ministry appointed 228 individuals to join County Transport and Safety Committees (CTSCs) and help drive enforcement in 38 counties.
“Appointments to the remaining nine counties will be made in the coming days. This week, the National Police Service (NPS) will appoint county traffic enforcement coordinators to complement the work of CTSCs,” the CS said.
Murkomen said to prevent accidents and protect lives, he issued further directives as follows:
a. School transportation:
As public engagements on the Draft Traffic (School Transport) Rules 2024 advance, all learning institutions are required to present their vehicles for inspection by May 1, 2024, to assess their mechanical soundness and whether the speed limiters installed on them are functional. School vehicles carrying children are restricted to operate between 6 am and 7 pm.
b. Compliance with KS 2295 – 2018:
Immediate compliance with KS 2295 – 2018 on maximum road speed limiters for motor vehicles to ensure speed limiters fitted on PSVs and commercial vehicles are functional, limiting speed, storing data, transmitting speed data every five seconds and onboarded onto the NTSA Intelligent Road Safety Management System ( IRSMS);
1 . All institutions and companies are required to present their vehicles for compliance checks with the relevant speed limiter vendors within 14 days, failing which all NTSA-issued licences will be invalidated.
2. All PSVs (7-seater and above) and commercial vehicles with a tare weight of 3,048kg and above will be presented for compliance checks with the relevant speed limiter vendors within 30 days, failing which all NTSA-issued licences will be rendered invalid.
3. Night enforcement: The NPS and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) will heighten night enforcement and random checks along major highways, with a focus on black spots. They should also ensure that stalled vehicles are removed from roads at the cost of the owners.
4. PSV routes: The NTSA is directed to immediately cease issuance of new PSV operator routes, review all existing routes issued to PSV operators and issue new routes only upon vetting of the operators.
5. Short-term PSV licences: Issuance of short-term PSV licences has been suspended until reviews of all PSV routes are completed.