Security chiefs at the Coast have kicked off a robust road safety sensitization campaign as the region begins to experience an influx of heavy traffic predominantly school buses ferrying students for holiday in various parts of the region.
The campaign which involves engaging the public in random stopovers between Mtwapa and Malindi towns comes in the wake of an alarming surge in cases of road accidents along the Mombasa-Malindi highway where about six serious accidents are recorded weekly in almost all the stations between Mtwapa and Malindi according to police records.
“All the stations between Malindi and Mtwapa, hardly go for a week without recording a minimum of between four and six serious accidents. We are concerned that this is a very high number that has left many of our citizens with permanent injuries, permanent disabilities or even fatalities,” Deputy Coast police commander Wilkister Verah explained the situation could be worrying especially with a majority of families travelling for holidays.
Regional Traffic Police Commander George Kashmiri on his part observed officers are on high alert monitoring all school buses coming to Coast during the holidays to avert possible accidents.
He said all lead traffic officers have been put on high alert to especially monitor school buses which have lately become notorious for road accidents.
“We have informed all the officers to inspect all the school buses and ensure that they comply with the set rules…There will be no night movement of school buses, no overloading, and they must be compliant with the inspection requirements,” Kashmiri said.
In the campaign, Vera noted that they decided to deploy a more interactive approach to improve police-community relations and reach a better scope of the targeted clients.
“We are asking our officers not to be too harsh on the public and we are also telling the public not to disrespect the officers so that there is a mutual understanding in this whole campaign,” she explained.
While urging motorists to be extra-vigilant while behind the wheel, the officers further stressed the importance of upholding general traffic discipline including getting enough sleep and avoiding being under the influence of drugs and alcohol among other vices.
“We are here to remind you what you already know. So please don’t put us off by saying that we came here to tell you ordinary things. It is these ordinary things you ignore that have cost us important lives and left families in deep trouble. So it is important that especially at this time when schools are closed and people are travelling a lot we observe all the safety measures to reduce cases of accidents, especially on this road which has lately become notorious,” explained Vera.
She further stated that accidents along the highway have further been exacerbated by the ongoing construction, urging motorists to respect road signage along the construction sites.
“It is disturbing to see that some PSV motorists are very cunning. They find barricades placed for road construction but they go ahead and clear them to use the road. What happens if you ram into a stationary machine at the far end?” posed the police boss.
Hilton Mwabili
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