Passengers plying along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway may experience inconveniences while travelling to and from the city during the Easter holiday.
Reports indicate that officials from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) have set up a road block at Uthiru along the highway on Monday to conduct compliance checks on motorists ferrying passengers.
Some passengers were reportedly seen alighting from the vehicles with their luggage after instructions by the NTSA officials while some police officers were seen removing number plates from some vehicles.
This could only mean that the vehicles were impounded over suspected traffic violations and non -compliance with regulations following an earlier directive issued by NTSA.
On Thursday, April 2, the agency issued an advisory urging all road users to prioritise safety, warning that speeding and drunk driving remain leading causes of fatalities.
NTSA director general Nashon Kondiwa said the authority, in collaboration with the National Police Service (NPS), had intensified enforcement operations nationwide to curb fatal crashes during the festive period.
“Slow down and adhere to posted limits. Drunk driving impairs judgment and reaction time; if you have consumed alcohol, do not get behind the wheel,” Kondiwa said.
He warned that a combination of irresponsible driving and slippery roads during the rainy season heightened the risk of accidents as families travelled to and from holiday destinations.
Kondiwa also advised motorists to rest adequately before embarking on long journeys and to take breaks every two hours, noting that driver fatigue can be equally dangerous.
“Failure to maintain lane discipline, including dangerous overtaking and weaving, puts all road users at risk. For those whose vehicles break down, ensure you park safely off the road and place warning triangles at a sufficient distance,” he added.