Police have announced a massive traffic crackdown in the wake of escalating road accidents in Kenya.
Over 1,000 people have died in road accidents in the past four months prompting the operation to remove faulty vehicles from the roads, starting Wednesday.
Traffic commandant Joseph ole Tito made the announcement after meeting with representatives of public service vehicles operators.
“Am giving matatu owners two days to ensure their vehicles are in order before we start the operations. We shall particularly be checking on faulty speed governors but also other requirements ,” he said.
During the meeting at the traffic headquarters in Nairobi, vehicle owners proposed the 80 kilometres per hour speed limit for matatus be increased to 100 kilometre per hour.
Mr Tito rejected the request outright, saying the most accidents are caused by speeding.
The traffic boss also revealed that his officers would adopt new technology in restoring road sanity.
In future, he said, police vehicles would be fitted with digital Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) capable of detecting and recording speed of targeted vehicles as they cruise on the highway as well as preserving the images.
The details would then be downloaded at the commandant’s office and printouts produced for evidence in court.
“The trials (on the technology) were done in March this year and recommendations was made to acquire them and start using them on our roads,” said Mr Tito.
He added: “We are only waiting for the gadget to be gazzetted. Assuming the minister gazettes it today, you will find it on our highways anytime.”
During the trials, a matatu driver was convicted in court on evidence gathered using the technology.
In court the police produced a photograph which clearly showed the vehicle’s number plate and that it was cruising at 93 kilometres per hour.
“This gadget will play a major role in bringing down the accidents because many of them are caused by speeding,” the commandant noted.
Also to be introduced are on spot ticketing, in which errant motorists will pay fines on the spot instead of being dragged to court.
It would also curb bribery because the tickets would have serial numbers and security features.
Presently, drivers flagged down for contradicting traffic regulations prefer to part with a bribe, sometimes higher than the amount of money imposed as fine for the offence, rather than face a cumbersome court process.
The dreaded Alcoblow, the gadget used to detect drink drivers, would also be reintroduced on Kenyan roads, Mr Tito said.
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