Police Introduce Daytime Alcoblow Tests

Police will now conduct alcoblow tests on drivers during the day, Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet announced on Friday.

Speaking during an award ceremony of officers at Jogoo House, Boinnet noted that the force had changed its tact to catch daytime drunk drivers.

"It is really aimed at getting rid of drunks hitting the road early morning while still groggy and not being in full charge of their faculties, hence risk killing themselves, or worse still murdering other innocent people.

"We have changed tact, those expecting us to do the drunk test in the night, we will also do the test in other hours of the day. We will particularly conduct tests in the morning," he stated.

He justified the change of tact terming it as an extra measure to reduce road carnage during the festive season.

Police decision to extend the hours of using the alcoblow tests to motorists is not foreign seeing that the same tactic was used in 2014.

At the time, the operation was conducted jointly between National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA) and the Kenya Traffic Police which saw several motorists arrested.

NTSA head of road safety Cosmas Ngeso noted with concern that drivers were boldly driving drunk during the day taking advantage of the fact that officers weren't targetting them.

He stated that such scheming by the drivers posed a grave danger to other road users.

“We are warning those motorists who think that this exercise is only done during the night to be aware that these operations would be done anytime and anywhere. We will not relent in ensuring that Kenyan roads are secure and accident-free,” Ngeso stated.

Many of those apprehended lamented over the exercise with some giving the excuse of drinking the previous day.

“This is against the law. When then are we allowed to drink?” one motorist pointed out.

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