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NTSA, police to conduct random drunk driving tests on major highways

National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) officials and police officers conduct compliance checks along the Kitale-Kapenguri road. (X/NTSA)

By Bashir Mohammed | 06 Apr 2024

Road accidents across the country have claimed 1,189 lives since the year started, painting a devastating picture of Kenyan roads.

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has announced that it will be conducting random drunk driving tests on major highways and roads across the country. In conjunction with the National Police Service (NPS), the exercise aims to curb reckless driving habits such as speeding, overloaded vehicles, and unlicensed drivers.

"As an authority, we are committed to keeping our roads safe. NTSA and NPS officers will be on all major highways to undertake road safety compliance checks," said the NTSA in a statement.

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Road accidents across the country have claimed 1,189 lives since the year started, painting a devastating picture of Kenyan roads. The statistics are an increase compared to the 1,129 recorded in 2023. This is according to data from the National Transport and Safety Authority between January 1 and April 1, 2024.

In March, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said that the severity of road accidents in the country is rivalling epidemics in terms of fatalities, terming it a “huge problem.”

“Between 2020 and 2022, we had COVID-19, a terrible epidemic. In those 2 years, the number of people who died out of COVID-19 was 4,600, yet in one year alone, 4000 people are dying out of traffic accidents, meaning this problem of road traffic accidents is worse off than even serious epidemics like COVID-19,” he said.

The NTSA and NPS will be conducting road safety compliance checks on all major highways, and motorists are advised to cooperate with the officers to ensure their safety and the safety of others on the road.

With the long rainy season underway, the NTSA has also issued seven cautionary measures for road users to observe. Road surfaces may become slippery due to accumulated dirt, soil, and oil deposits, advising motorists to reduce their speed.

"We appeal to motorists to desist from driving through flash floods, flooded roads, and flooded riverbeds... Passengers should also take responsibility for their safety and speak out if their driver is reckless," the NTSA warned.

Also, drivers may try to remove stalled cars, so pedestrians should be aware of their surroundings.

"We want to ensure that all road users arrive at their destinations safely. We urge everyone to be vigilant and responsible on the roads," said NTSA Director-General George Njao.