NTSA Introduces New System in Crackdown on All Motorists

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is working on a new system as part of a crackdown targeting all motorists in Kenya.

In a statement, the authority indicated that the new system is aimed at harmonising and synchronising the digital system under Transport Integrated Management System (TIMS) to provide information regarding all vehicles on Kenyan roads.

This comes after the revelation that some unroadworthy vehicles, which had been flagged off the road, had sneaked back into the transport sector causing a spike in accidents.

NTSA Director of Registration and Licensing, Christopher Wanjau, explained that some of the unroadworthy vehicles used duplicate number plates to operate undetected.

A police officer engages a motorist during the NTSA crackdown on Tuesday, May 4, 2021.

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He further noted that the new system will be upgraded to have all information regarding both Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) and privately-owned vehicles.

"We are going to link all information of PSV and other vehicles to other services including transfer of ownership. Some of the booked vehicles take duplicate number plates and continue to operate.

"If a vehicle should be booked, its next destination should be a garage and not going back to the road," stated Wanjau.

The director indicated that some of the dangerous vehicles that have been operating had failed inspection tests and had also not heeded to the NTSA directive to undergo repairs before another test.

NTSA also directed PSV operators and driving schools to ensure that all passenger vehicles placed under probation should not be sold out.

The authority noted that the vehicles were dangerous and that they may harm other users.

"As an organisation, our duty is to ensure all road users comply with the law. We also listen to your concerns and challenges and provide solutions," added NTSA's Technical Committee chair, Alice Chesire.

As the country emerges from a festive season, the number of road accidents have been on the rise with latest NTSA figures indicating that 3,212 died in road accidents between January and September 2021, an increase from 2,560 in a similar period the previous year (2020).

NTSA officials at a past road accident scene

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