The Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) on Thursday, April 19, revealed that the authority was working with the police to unveil a new technology aimed at curbing traffic offenders along Kenyan highways.
Speaking at the Mariakani Weigh Bridge, KeNHA Senior compliance officer Engineer Kennedy Ndugire supervised the launch of the high-speed weighing motion technology.
Ndugire explained that the technology will compute the weight of vehicles at high speed.
The technology will then relay information on a platform that will determine whether or not the vehicles violated the maximum load capacity.
"The machine can detect the weight of vehicles moving at speeds between 40 kilometres and 140 kilometres per hour.
"The system will filter out the vehicles by displaying a red or green light to denote which vehicles can proceed and those that need to go through the station," he remarked.
Ndugire explained that the technology will reduce the traffic witnessed on highways when transit vehicles queue to go through the weight inspection centres.
Highway Commandant John Gichohi confirmed that the police will be working closely with KeNHA.
"The East African Vehicles Road Control Act decriminalises overloading. All vehicles nabbed with gross or axle overload will not be taken to court but will be fined instantly," he stated.
However, he warned that vehicles that intentionally bypass one weighbridge will be charged.
In addition, drivers of any transit vehicles carrying goods classified as out of gauge or exceeding the requisite dimensions must present special permits.
Weighbridges have been the leading cause of traffic snarl-ups on highways with motorists and passengers forced to spend nights on the road.
