Police Go After Motorists With Flashing Lights On Their Cars

Also to be monitored by police during the crackdown is the use of unauthorised sirens. 

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Oct 28, 2022 - 09:16 Updated: Oct 28, 2022 - 09:16
0
Police Go After Motorists With Flashing Lights On Their Cars
A car with red and blue flashing lights. /FILE

Kenyans fond of installing flashing or strobe lights similar to those on police cars have been targeted in a new crackdown by the National Police Service (NPS).

In a statement on Friday, October 28, the NPS noted that several motorists were using lights deemed illegal in Traffic Laws.

Also to be monitored by police during the crackdown is the use of unauthorised sirens. 

"NPS observes that several private vehicles, public service vehicles, and motorcycle owners have; unlawfully equipped lamps, modified illuminating lights, red lights, opaque rear lights, flashing lights, flickering lights, LED illuminating bars and unauthorized red and blue lights.

A car with flashing lights along a Kenyan road in 2018. /TWITTER.ARCHER MISHALE

"All traffic enforcement officers across the country have been directed to impound and charge motor vehicle/motorcycle owners in accordance with relevant provisions of the law," read the statement in part.

For Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) NPS noted that traffic police will be keeping an eye on matatus with road licences among the necessary requirements for operating along the roads.

"PSV, tour and commercial vehicle owners are advised to ensure their vehicles have valid licences including motor vehicle inspection sticker and PSV badge for the driver and conductor," read the statement in part.

In addition, motorists were advised to observe the traffic requirements to avoid colliding with the law.

"All vehicle owners are advised to adhere to the requirements of the Traffic Act (Cap 403). Section 55 read with the Traffic Rules Number 23 and 24 to avoid any inconveniences," NPS stated.

The new crackdown follows one launched late last month which sought to focus on specific areas of compliance check, including the use of seatbelts by passengers.

It also sought to establish Road Service Licence (RSL) validity verification for all Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) as well as PSV route compliance checks to weed out illegal PSV operators.

The enforcement exercise also aimed to verify PSV Licence and badge validity, Motor vehicle Inspection stickers for PSVs as well as commercial vehicles, monitor Fleet Speed and enforce Lane discipline to prevent overlapping and dangerous overtaking.

Police Spokesperson Bruno Shioso on Wednesday, September 28 announced the crackdown while expressing concern regarding the increase in road accidents across Kenya.

Shioso noted that between January 1, 2022, and September 26, 2022, a total of 15,924 victims of road crashes across the country have been recorded with 3,541 victims fatally injured and 7,236 persons seriously injured. 5,147 victims were slightly injured.

The number of fatalities this year is compared to 3,286 who perished in the same period a year, thus representing a 7.8 per cent increase.

"We also observe a sharp increase in fatalities among passengers and in the last one week. (18th-26th September 2022) a total of 145 persons have perished.

"From our assessment, the increase was mainly attributed to preventable and predictable factors. Non-usage of seat belts by commuters, driver behaviour such as speeding leading to loss of control in high occupancy vehicles and poor mechanical condition of vehicles resulting in brake failures and tyre bursts were some of the noted causes," Shioso noted in part.

Vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, motorcyclists and pillion passengers were revealed to be the most affected in these statistics. The most affected were pedestrians where 1,269 perished in 2022 followed by motorcyclists at 941, passengers (634), drivers (324), pillion passengers (324) and pedal cyclists (49).

Scene after a matatu collided head-on with a fuel trailer on September 26, 2022. /TWITTER

Tags: