Govt warns of stricter traffic rules
Transport Minister Amos Kimunya has warned the government may consider imposing more stringent traffic regulations should the amended Traffic Act fail to deter reckless drivers.
The amended Traffic Act, which outlines Kenya's most severe traffic regulations, will become operational December 1, 2012.
Minister Kimunya vowed to seek tougher penalties should the ones outlined in the amended Traffic Act fail to deter motorists from causing accidents.
“I will be very happy to go back to Parliament and seek heavier fines if these laws don’t work. We had actually proposed very heavy penalties but Parliament decided to be generous with them arguing that traffic offenses and not criminal ones," Mr Kimunya said on Monday.
He made the remarks during the announcement of new road transport laws and commencement of road safety education and awareness campaign in Nairobi.
Assistant minister Hassan Joho said the new laws were not meant to target anyone but to restore law and order on roads.
“It is not going to be business as usual with the new traffic laws," cautioned Mr Kimunya.
Under the new laws, all drivers of public service vehicles and commercial ones will be required to undergo physical fitness, eye and hearing testing after every three years to qualify for a renewal of their driving licences.
Those found recklessly driving will be jailed for two years or fined Sh 300,000, while drunken driving will now attract a jail term of two years or a Sh 200,000 fine.
The minister at the same time announced the commencement of an intense education and awareness campaign that will target road users countrywide.
Mr Kimunya also riterated its commitment to phase-out 14-seater matatus and replace them with higher capacity buses.
“There is no need of having many small boxes congesting our roads when one big bus can economically service the people”, said the Minister.
Mr Kimunya also said his ministry in conjunction with other government agencies is in the process of automating all road transport activities through the Transport Intergrated Management (TIM) system project to facilitate sharing of transport related information among stakeholders as a way of restoring order on the roads.
