President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday at State House, Nairobi, signed seven Bills into law, aimed at streamlining service delivery to the public.
Key among them was the Traffic Amendment Act 2017 which seeks to amend the Traffic (cap 403) in order to ensure road safety near schools and also promote child safety in motor vehicles.
According to the law, all motorists are prohibited from driving any vehicle at a speed exceeding 50 kilometres per hour near schools.
The new regulation also provides that the same speed is maintained by drivers along a road or area used by children as a pedestrian crossing.
“A person shall not drive, or being the owner or person in charge of a vehicle, cause or permit any other person to drive, any vehicle at a speed exceeding 50 kilometres per hour on any road within the boundaries of a nursery, primary or secondary school or an area used by the children when crossing to and from school as by be designated as a pedestrian crossing by the Highway Authority,” the signed Bill states.
Any person who will be found guilty of contravening the provisions of the section shall be liable to a fine not exceeding Sh20,000.
The Act also mandates the Highway Authority to erect and maintain traffic signs so as to indicate to drivers entering or leaving such roads or areas where the speed limit restrictions begin and end.
In terms of promoting child safety in motor vehicles, the law dictates that a person or institution shall not designate or use a vehicle for transporting children to and from school or non-school related activity unless the vehicle meets the prescribed standards.
The Bill was assented to on the same day a six-year old pupil at St Augustine Primary was crushed to death in Mombasa after falling through an opening on the floor of the school bus.
Witnesses claim the deceased was trying to reach a water bottle that had fallen through the opening when the seat of the bus caved in.
