New Radical Traffic Bill Amendments Proposed
A new Traffic Amendment Bill 2012 is being proposed that will bring a raft of major changes to the existing traffic law. This will come as no surprise to Kenyans because there has been a noticeable increase in road carnage reports in the recent past. One of the more radical measures being proposed is the abolishment of the Kenya Traffic Police Department. According to the Bill, which is sponsored by Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo, all police officers would be required to enforce traffic laws.
The Bill proposes much tougher penalties for offenders while introducing other regulations that it hopes will make it harder for man made errors, usually the cause of many accidents, to occur. The following is a quick overview of some of the major points in the Bill.
➢ The Administrative Unit of the Kenya Police Service known as the Traffic Department would be abolished
➢ Ownership of vehicle registration plates would be given to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
➢ In the event that the ownership of a vehicle changes, the registration plates are to be surrendered to the registrar of motor vehicles first. Failure to do so would attract a fine not exceeding KES 30 000, and a subsequent KES 10 000 for every month the law is not observed.
➢ Driver's licence holders would have to undergo eye tests every three years. They would need to present a medical practitioner's report in order to renew their licence. People failing to adhere to this requirement would be disqualified from holding a licence for three years.
➢ Driving under the influence would attract a penalty of 10 years in jail or a minimum of KES 500 000 fine, or both.
➢ Overlapping, driving on pavements and pedestrian walkways or using petrol stations to avoid traffic would get you a three month prison term or a fine of KES 30 000, or both.
➢ The licence of a person found guilty of exceeding speed limits would be invalid for not less than 3 years if the limit is exceeded by up to 10 KPH or if the offense is repeated more than three times.
➢ The Inspector General of Police would designate areas where Police will be required to erect roadblocks.
➢ There will be road signs showing the prescribed speed limits.
➢ PSV drivers and conductors would be required to wear badges and uniforms. In addition, the PSV drivers would be required to do a compulsory competence test every two years.
➢ Motorcycles would have to be insured against third party risks and the riders would be compelled to wear helmets and reflector jackets. Penalties for contravening this law would attract a KES 10 000 fine or a one-year jail term.
Meanwhile, the Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe welcomed the proposed changes but wanted an inclusion of all the stakeholders first before it could be enacted. According to Mr Kiraithe, it is important for the public, the judiciary and the police to be involved in order to have a proper and positive change in the traffic laws.
The current Traffic Commandant, Joseph Ole Tito was not comfortable with the idea of disbanding the entire Traffic Police Department. It is Mr Ole Tito's opinion that the police force would lose its grip on the traffic situation on the country if the traffic duties were to be spread to the entire force.
