Traffic jam on University Way, Nairobi. FILE PHOTO | NMG
Kenyan motorists will later this month switch to digital driving
licences, but will be spared instant fines that come with the smart
card due to a pending court case.
The National
Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) said more than 100,000 of the
smart cards have been made in readiness for distribution to motorists
starting with first time drivers.
The smart licences
have instant fines capability software installed, but it will remain
inactive until the court case is heard and determined.
NTSA
director- general Francis Meja said the smart licenses will launched
this month, adding that the instant fines capability will be activated
once the case in concluded.
“Instant fines are aimed at
penalising petty offenders whereby the information will be relayed to
our database and fines paid ‘cashlessly’ thereby helping curb graft on
our roads,” said Mr Meja.
The rules frozen by court
required motorists who commit minor traffic offences such as talking on
the phone while driving or exceeding speed limits will from Wednesday
pay instant fines of between Sh500 and Sh10,000.
The
list of minor violations included speeding, motorcycle riding without
protective gear, failure to fasten seat belts, pedestrians blocking the
free passage of cars, driving on footpaths and travelling with part of
body outside a moving vehicle.
Besides the instant
fines capability, the card comes loaded with points to be deducted every
time a motorist commits a traffic offence.
Repeat
offenders who will have exhausted their points will permanently lose
their licences, have them confiscated temporarily, pay spot fines or be
made to attend refresher driving classes.
The
points system, widely used in the West to tame drivers, will see each
motorist’s card loaded with 20 points that are to be deducted
progressively at a rate proportional to the offence committed.
Breaches like overlapping will see drivers lose a single point from their accounts over and above getting fined.
A driver will have a week or so to recover this “lost” point if he or she doesn’t commit other offences.
Serious
offences like drunk driving and speeding will result in deductions of
more than 10 points, fines and a raft of other disciplinary measures
that could see one lose their licence for life.
ALSO READ: Motorists to pay fines using smart licences
The
NTSA will also share the information on rogue drivers with insurance
firms, a move that could see such drivers’ premiums rise as they will be
deemed to be risky clients.
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