The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) Road Safety Manager, Samuel Musumba has revealed that the regularisation of alcoblow is in its final stages and could soon make a return to the roads.
Speaking during an interview on Radio Maisha, Musumba indicated that NTSA stopped enforcing alcolow following court orders that were issued in 2017 and 2020.
He indicated that the court directed the agency to draft alcohol levels needed to determine a drunk driver before implementation.
Musumba added that NTSA completed their proposed draft and engaged Kenyans on the same early in the year. Members of Parliament will give a way forward on the proposed levels and regulations.
"Alcoblow was good and Kenyans took us to court. We followed the ruling as the court directed us to draft the level of alcohol needed in the blood system," he stated.
"We proposed changes in April and we have taken the proposal in Parliament and we will likely get the return in due course."
As per the proposed Traffic (Drunk Driving) Rules, 2022, drivers of Public Service Vehicles (PSVs), commercial service vehicles, or school buses are expected to have zero alcohol levels when driving.
The regulations propose a suspension of licences of drivers driving while drunk under this category for six months should they be found with any alcohol traces.
Drivers of personal cars will be required to have a maximum of 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
Regarding the use of speed guns, Musumba indicated that the traffic police occasionally use them in designated areas along major highways leading to towns such as Naivasha and Eldoret.
He noted that the agency and the police will move away from hiding in the bushes and opt for the installation of still cameras.
"We have plans to install still cameras. There were officers who were chased by snakes when they used to hide in the bushes," he stated.
