Residents of Nairobi have recently complained of an increase in the number of drivers parking their cars on walkways in the CBD as the number of automobiles continues to rise in the CBD.
The residents noted that the situation worsened on weekends and during public holidays, when many people were out shopping, going to church or drinking.
An increase in cases of drivers parking on walkways reflected the ignorance of the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) laws as displayed by some drivers.
“The drivers who park on the pavements disturb city residents, who may want to stand at such places and talk or make phone calls,” lamented one resident.
However, parking vehicles on walkways has long been forbidden with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) laws spelling out a penalty of Ksh5,000 for those caught.
“Driving on or through a pavement or pedestrian walkway leads to a penalty of Ksh5,000,” the Kenya traffic act violations and penalties guideline by NTSA read in part.
The Nairobi County Government, on the other hand, issued a firm warning on drivers parking on the CBD pavements through its by-laws terming the act as illegal.
“Parking on a pavement is an illegal act,” the Nairobi County Laws read in part.
The laws explained that vehicles had to be parked within the space marked by red or yellow lines or any other mark provided by the council.
In a bid to combat the number of road fatalities, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), listed other traffic offenses under a microscope in its latest road safety campaign.
Some of the offenses include the failure of the conductor to refund the fare for the incomplete journey of its passengers for which the full fare was paid. The fine was pegged at Ksh5,000.
Pedestrians willfully obstructing the free passage of vehicles incurred a sum of Ksh500 while the offense of causing obstruction by allowing a vehicle to remain in any position on the road so as to obstruct motorists incurred a Ksh10,000 fine.
