The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has set a date for unveiling the Integrated Transport Management System (iTMS) to help curb road accidents in the country.
According to NTSA Director General, George Njau, who spoke on Tuesday, June 7, the integrated system will become active by the end of June and will help address cases of surging road accidents.
When rolled out, the new system will allow police officers to automatically gather information and recommend appropriate action for Traffic Rules offenders.
"At the end of June, we shall roll it out countrywide where police will be equipped with smart applications to help them automatically collect key road data for easy action,” Njau stated.
According to NTSA, the new system will incorporate modern speed limit checkers and will be fitted with devices that easily flush out non-valid drivers.
"The new application will involve having modern speed limit checkers [and] authenticating valid road users’ documents, among others," Njau added.
The announcement followed shortly after NTSA released data revealing that a total of 1,968 people lost their lives in road accidents from January to May this year.
The figure translates to 9.3 per cent increase from the number of death recorded in a similar period in 2021 with pedestrians making up the bulk of the fatalities.
The decision by NTSA follows a series of road carnages in the last couple of days on different routes in the country.
On Tuesday, June 7, at least six people succumbed to injuries they sustained in a road crash along Thika - Garissa Highway. The head-on collision between a bus and a personal car in the Molomu area between Kanyonyo market and Kivandini market was blamed on the carelessness on the drivers.
The accident came just three days after twelve people lost their lives through a road accident at Kanyonyoo junction in Kitui county.
The surge has continued despite the government ordering a crackdown on some vehicles in the country. Government spokesperson, Col (Rtd) Cyrus Oguna, noted that the operation followed increased cases of violating traffic rules, especially during the campaign period.
The government expressed concerns over the number of increasing accidents in the country that are linked to election campaigns.
"In the last few weeks, cases of road crashes, most of which have led to unnecessary loss of innocent lives, have been on the rise. It is noted with great concern that motorists and boda boda riders are exhibiting high levels of lawlessness, with total disregard for safety measures, particularly, while on the campaign trails, thus endangering not only their lives but also that of other road users," the statement read in part.
