Travellers at a matatu stage in Nyeri town, January 2, 2014. Operators on long distance routes are being forced to close their business early due to the ban on night travel ban. Photo/JOSEPH KANYI
An MP has called on the government to quickly lift the ban imposed on night travel through public transport vehicles.
The chairman of the parliamentary committee on Transport Maina Kamanda faulted the move, describing it a knee-jerk reaction that would only harm ordinary Kenyans.
“Banning night travel is an ad-hoc move that will only harm the ordinary man. The ministry ought to have come up with better measures to enhance safety,” Mr Kamanda said Tuesday.
“Banning night travel is an ad-hoc move that will only harm the ordinary man. The ministry ought to have come up with better measures to enhance safety,” Mr Kamanda said Tuesday.
Transport Principal Secretary Nduva Muli last month banned night travel following what he said was an increase in road crashes over the festive season.
But Mr Kamanda argued that the ban is negatively affecting the country’s economy and called on the government to quickly review its stand.
“Our people are very hard working and a move like this only reduces the gains they have made. We urge the government to quickly lift this ban,” he added.
He said the country cannot talk of becoming a 24-hour economy when its vehicles are prohibited from ferrying passengers at night.
While imposing the ban, Mr Muli had said long-distance public transport vehicles travelling from 6pm to 6am must get a licence from the National Safety and Transport Authority.
They must also meet certain conditions, including having a relief driver before they can get such a licence.
But the Starehe MP is of the view that such vehicles be allowed to conduct business provided they have relief drivers.
“The most important thing is to ensure that these buses have in-built speed governors so that they cannot move beyond the recommended speed,” he said.
INBUILT SPEED GOVERNORS
He called on the government to make it mandatory for vehicle manufacturers to ensure the speed governors are in-built so that the drivers cannot tamper with them.
He also faulted the timing of the ban.
The ban has left thousands stranded, with buses overwhelmed by the back-to-school rush and the many people travelling across the country following the end of December holidays.
The lawmaker said the ministry should instead focus on changing the mindset and attitudes of the drivers and other road users as the surest way to curb road carnage.
More than 3000 lives had been lost by mid-December last year as a result of road accidents despite stringent traffic regulations that saw offenders fined over Sh1.5 billion in the last few months of 2013.
But Mr Kamanda argued that the ban is negatively affecting the country’s economy and called on the government to quickly review its stand.
“Our people are very hard working and a move like this only reduces the gains they have made. We urge the government to quickly lift this ban,” he added.
He said the country cannot talk of becoming a 24-hour economy when its vehicles are prohibited from ferrying passengers at night.
While imposing the ban, Mr Muli had said long-distance public transport vehicles travelling from 6pm to 6am must get a licence from the National Safety and Transport Authority.
They must also meet certain conditions, including having a relief driver before they can get such a licence.
But the Starehe MP is of the view that such vehicles be allowed to conduct business provided they have relief drivers.
“The most important thing is to ensure that these buses have in-built speed governors so that they cannot move beyond the recommended speed,” he said.
INBUILT SPEED GOVERNORS
He called on the government to make it mandatory for vehicle manufacturers to ensure the speed governors are in-built so that the drivers cannot tamper with them.
He also faulted the timing of the ban.
The ban has left thousands stranded, with buses overwhelmed by the back-to-school rush and the many people travelling across the country following the end of December holidays.
The lawmaker said the ministry should instead focus on changing the mindset and attitudes of the drivers and other road users as the surest way to curb road carnage.
More than 3000 lives had been lost by mid-December last year as a result of road accidents despite stringent traffic regulations that saw offenders fined over Sh1.5 billion in the last few months of 2013.
Post a Comment