The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has announced that it will kickstart a crackdown on drivers breaching road safety regulations ahead of the Easter Celebration.
In a press briefing in Mombasa, the NTSA Chairman Khatib Mwashetani confirmed that the authority will deploy officers across different roads in the country from Wednesday to ensure that Kenyans abide by road safety regulations during the busy weekend.
During the crackdown, Khatib said that the NTSA officers will be keen to apprehend vehicles that have not installed speed governors and drunk drivers, among other offences.
"We want to ask Kenyans to be vigilant. For those who know they are drunkards, let them not drive while drunk, and also, for those who know their vehicles don't have speed governors, you should ensure that you have them installed," he said.
"Let us adhere to the law. If you are driving, then drive as a sober person so that you may avoid being on the wrong side. We wish all Kenyans a happy Easter," he added.
NTSA, in a statement on Tuesday, April 15, issued six precautions to drivers and passengers in an effort to curb road accidents in the country.
The top of the list was speeding. The authority has urged drivers to refrain from speeding and to drive within the recommended speed limits.
The second on the list was to avoid drunk driving. Drivers have been urged to ensure they are sober. "Sobriety is the silent hero of every safe trip home. Never drink and drive," it stated.
If a vehicle has stalled on the road, drivers have been urged to place warning signs to alert other motorists. Drivers have, however, been urged to ensure that their vehicles are well serviced to ensure a smooth journey.
Additionally, drivers have been encouraged to take breaks during long journeys to avoid fatigue and improve decision-making.
Passengers, on the other hand, have been urged to ensure that they immediately report reckless driving to the police.
In the recent week, the country has experienced a spike in road accidents, especially on some of the busiest roads across the country.
Yesterday morning, on the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway, three people lost their lives and several others sustained injuries following a head-on collision between a public service vehicle (PSV) travelling from the western part of the country towards Nairobi and an oncoming lorry that was heading from Nakuru in the opposite direction.
On Sunday, April 13, another truck ferrying cars overturned at Tsavo along the busy Nairobi-Mombasa highway, leaving the cars sprawled across the highway.
In a statement on Monday, April 14, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), NTSA, and the National Police Service (NPS) announced the return of a road safety awareness campaign in response to the rising number of road accidents.
Appearing before the National Assembly on Friday, April 11, Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said that NTSA would erect more vehicle inspection centers across the country in a bid to curb road accidents.
