Murkomen Empowers Kenyans After NTSA Cracks Down On Overloaded TukTuk

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has urged Kenyans to oppose instances where operators of matatus, buses or tuk-tuks overload their vehicles with passengers.

The CS stated on Thursday, December 21 after traffic police officers in conjunction with those from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) impounded a tuk-tuk along the Kisumu-Nairobi Road which was carrying eight passengers instead of the usual three.

In a video seen by Viral Tea, a passenger could be seen cramming himself into the tiny vehicle before he was instructed by the NTSA officials to step out as they counted the number of passengers who had boarded the vehicle.

"This Tuktuk was stopped by NTSA and traffic police officers while carrying eight passengers instead of the recommended three (3) on the Kisumu-Nairobi Road. Needless to say, it was dangerously overloaded," stated the CS in part.

Here is the video:

This Tuktuk was stopped by NTSA and traffic police officers while carrying eight passengers instead of the recommended four on the Kisumu-Nairobi Road.

Needless to say it was dangerously overloaded.

I hope the cyclist, who fled the scene, will be made to face justice for his… pic.twitter.com/WoiAkpUYCK — KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) December 21, 2023

Murkomen corroborated revelations by the passengers that the tuk-tuk driver had escaped, vowing that the driver would be made to face justice for his reckless behaviour.

The CS used the incident as an example to others who may be caught in similar scenarios, calling upon Kenyans to protest anytime bus drivers, matatu drivers or tuk-tuk cyclists overload their vehicles with passengers.

"To all passengers, please don't encourage this kind of unsafe road behaviour by keeping quiet. Protest when you see a bus driver or a Tuktuk cyclist starting to overload.

"Let's stop risking lives on our roads. Remember that road safety is everyone's responsibility," he urged.

Dangers of Overloading

Overloading causes the vehicle to lose stability as the centre of gravity is raised. This makes steering and braking of the vehicle difficult.

According to the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), here are the dangers and the risks of overloading of vehicles;

Road Surface Damage

Driving an overloaded vehicle (private or commercial) can seriously damage road surfaces. The possibility of damage increases as the load increases. 

The damage begins to affect the safety of road users who may have to contend with cracks and potholes on the road surface. Prevention is better than cure, hence the reason lorries have to undergo testing at various weighbridges along the highways.    

Vehicle Stability

No vehicle behaves in the same way when overloaded, but generally, steering becomes more difficult. Overloading a vehicle usually occurs towards the back of a car, pickup or truck. 

This causes the front wheels to touch the road surface under less weight. This results in the loss of traction and steering control. In extreme cases, the front wheels may, at times, even lift off the road surface.

Effect On The Tyres

Overloading strains the tyre’s structure which leads to increased friction. As a result, this produces a lot of heat.

Overheated tyres can wear out rapidly and may result in blowouts. In most cases, blow-outs are fatal as the driver loses control of the vehicle leading to an accident.

Loss Of Acceleration

An overloaded car is not able to accelerate quickly. Sometimes, it may happen that a motorist suddenly needs to accelerate and overtake a car to avoid danger.

If this is not possible, the driver may endanger passengers and other road users.

Increased Braking Distance

First, brakes have to work extra hard seeing that the car is so heavy. Stressed brakes will generate a lot of heat, making them less effective. 

Secondly, the stopping distance of an overloaded vehicle will be longer than usual. This may lead to rear-end crashes as the car simply runs out of distance before it can stop.

Poor Vision Due To Blind Spots

An overloaded car will have its headlights pointing upwards. As a result, a driver may see less directly in front of the car.

This also puts other oncoming motorists at risk as they are blinded by the headlights. Therefore, the chances of a head-on collision also increase.

Damage Of Suspensions

Overloading can cause unnecessary stress on the suspension of a vehicle. Ineffective shock absorbers can lead to uneven tyre wear as well as cause instability during driving.

Image of an overloaded matatu in Kenya. /STANDARD DIGITAL

Insurance Implication

An insurer may reject an insurance claim because overloading is illegal. Overloading messes with some of the specifications that make a car roadworthy.

To avoid overloading a car, find out from the manual how much weight a vehicle is permitted to carry. This way you will safeguard yourself, your passengers and other drivers on the road.

Latest Accident Statistics

On Monday, December 18, CS Murkomen confirmed that 3,999 people died in road accidents between January and December 7, 2023, a reduction number from the 4,352 recorded within the same period in 2022.

"Notably, the reduction in deaths coincided with a concerning increase in the number of seriously injured individuals, suggesting that more work needs to be done to improve road safety.