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Driving? This is what you need in your car, according to NTSA


The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has outlined the safety tools that motorists require in their vehicles as it carries out a nationwide crackdown to ensure all motorists comply with the road safety rules.

For private motorists, the authority officials will be inspecting the road worthiness of the car, looking out for worn out tyres, broken lights, valid licences and speeding.

NTSA chairman Lee Kinyanjui told Nairobi News that fire extinguishers, jump starters, first aid kits and tow ropes are not essential for private cars. A life saver (warning triangle) is, however, an essential.

POLICE HARASSMENT

Motorists in private cars have complained of police harassment for lack of the non-essential tools.

“The first aid kits and fire extinguishers are essential for matatus and buses but the tow ropes and jump starters are not essential for those vehicles as well,” said Mr Kinyanjui.

He added that the main focus of the crackdown is on “key things that undermine road safety including speeding and should not be reduced to side shows.”

Asked about some motorists complaining that NTSA officials were asking for the non-essentials in private cars, Mr Kinyanjui said “a signal will be sent across the network to clarify on areas of focus.”

TARGETING MOTORISTS

Last week, the authority in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and the National Police Service launched an initiative that will be targeting all categories of motorists including private vehicles, Government, PSV, heavy commercial vehicles and motor cycles.

For motorcycles, Mr Kinyanjui said the authority will be checking that the rider has full safety gear as well as a helmet and reflector for the passenger.

The authority further directed that all PSV Saccos and companies to ensure that all their drivers and conductors wear their respective uniforms as prescribed in the traffic Act Cap 403.

The crackdown comes in the wake of a series of accidents along different highways that have claimed the lives of many Kenyans.