On Monday, May 16, a huge traffic snarl-up was witnessed on sections of the Nairobi Expressway, two days after the trial phase was launched.
This elicited debate from motorists on the cause of the traffic on a road that is meant to offer a solution to the traffic nightmare that is synonymous with the city.
An official who spoke to Kenyans.co.ke confirmed that the traffic was caused by an influx of motorists who were using the cash and manual modes of payment as opposed to the electronic modes.
The official pointed out on the need for motorists to pay using electronic means, either through the Manual Toll Card (MTC) or Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) service, as a way of avoiding traffic.
Transport Cabinet Secretary, James Macharia, while opening the Expressway on Saturday, May 14, noted that only an average of 11,000 motorists had registered to use the road, with 7,000 registering to use the electronic toll collection system.
The ETC method is a non-stop service that uses a points-based system where points are deducted from a vehicle's On-Board Unit (OBU) that is pre-installed, hence reducing the time taken at the toll stations.
ETC Service
The Moja Expressway Company official gave a breakdown of what motorists using the Expressway ought to do in order to take the shortest time possible. The source affirmed that the users should ensure that their ETC wallet is loaded with enough points for their trip.
The motorists should then approach the lane labelled ETC while maintaining a speed limit of below 20 kilometres per hour (kph).
The official advised motorists to keep a distance of at least ten metres between them and the vehicles ahead of them.
The users should then slow down at the toll booth until the registration plate, classification and weight of the vehicle is displayed on the monitor.
The barrier will automatically lift granting the motorist passage. The user is required to access the exit only using the lanes marked ETC while maintaining a speed limit of below 20kph.
The toll fees due will be displayed as the user approaches the exit and toll points automatically deducted through the OBU device.
Once toll fees have been paid and the barrier lifted, the motorist may safely exit the expressway.
For users who may be low on cash in the ETC wallet, the toll collectors will advise you to reverse and use the MTC lane to pay the toll fees manually.
Currently, mobile money payments are not allowed in order to reduce traffic congestion at the toll stations.
