Proposed Traffic Rules Needs Disciplined Enforcers

Motorists should brace themselves for major changes in June next year that could revolutionise the way Kenyans drive, deal a blow to careless driving and stem the tide of rising carnage on our roads.

The success of the whole system, however, will be dependent on the personnel enforcing the rules. The police, for example, lack a credible system to monitor and evaluate officers selected to work in the Traffic Department.

Sharing data

The authority is set to begin the journey by taking off our roads 25,000 public service vehicle drivers who got their licences irregularly.

The new rules will also require the re-testing of all drivers. Kenyans irked by the changes should keep in sight the greater good the exercise is expected to achieve, take a deep breath and get on with it. Those who pass the driving test will be issued with smart driving licences that will record information on the owners’ habits.

This data will be shared with insurance companies. The result is that the majority of prudent drivers will no longer have to pay for the mistakes of their I-don’t-care counterparts through hefty insurance premiums.

Each category of driver would henceforth have to carry its own cross. The expected vetting of all police officers raises hopes that the force will be able to re-constitute a new traffic department that derives satisfaction from helping reduce road accidents — not from the size of the purse it has got from motorists. Until then, Kenyans will continue to live on hope.

News Source: STANDARD Digital