The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has proposed regulations that are aimed at enforcing rules governing prudent use of highways across the country.
In the Kenya Roads (Kenya National Highways Authority) Regulations, motorists face fines of up to Ksh1.9 million for causing damage to various road infrastructure erected on highways.
For instance, any motorist who damages beams and decks of concrete bridges will be surcharged between Ksh540,000 to Ksh1.9 million depending on the damage caused.
"Damage to abutment, pier, beams and deck of reinforced concrete bridges of not less than 200 millimetres shall be made good or repaired based on a rate of Ksh1,960,000 per cubic metre of reinforced non-cementitious, epoxy shrinkage compensated grout material or any other material tested in a designated laboratory to meet specification and approved by the Director-General.
"Damage to reinforced concrete structures causing repairable cracks of 0.25 millimetres but less than 1 millimetre, to an abutment, pier, beams, deck slab, or similar damage caused to reinforced concrete box culverts shall be made good or repaired based on a rate of Ksh540,000 per cubic metre of grout or any other material tested in a designated laboratory to meet the specifications and approved by the Director-General," the regulations read in part.
On the other hand, motorists who damage the steel components of a bridge shall pay Ksh250,000 per ton of fabricated mild steel.
Damage to crash barriers shall attract a fine of Kshs 15,000 per metre.
"Armco culvert shall be replaced at Ksh50,000 per metre for a 1.5-meter diameter and Ksh100,000 per metre for a 2-meter diameter culvert.
"Concrete culvert shall be replaced at Ksh16,500 for a 600-millimetre diameter culvert and Ksh18,000 for a 900-millimetre diameter culvert," KeNHA proposed in the regulations.
Transportation of Abnormal Loads
On the other hand, the regulations also propose guidelines to be used by motorists transporting abnormal loads on the highways.
For instance, those transporting abnormal loads must apply for a permit. Persons transporting such loads will also be required to apply for police escorts and use warning lights during the transportation.
However, should damages be made to road infrastructure during transportation, there will be a hefty fine of Ksh400,000 on top of the cost required to repair the damage caused.
Overloading
"A person commits an offence under these regulations if that person, being the driver of any vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of 3,500 kgs and above, bypasses, evades, avoids, absconds or escapes from a weighbridge station, whether overloaded or not and shall be liable to a fine of Ksh400,000 or imprisonment of two years or both," KeNHA proposed.
On the other hand, concealing number plates or using different number plates to avoid detection of overloading will also attract a fine of Ksh300,000 or imprisonment for a year.
