Kenya: NTSA Introduces Breathalyser Tests as Road Safety Crackdown Begins

Transport authorities have turned to real-time digital monitoring and strict speed governor checks to curb rising evening fatalities as a new national safety campaign gets under way.

Under Operation Msimu Bila Ajali, Usalama Barabarani, launched on Monday, October 26, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and police officers are focusing heavily on technical compliance during nighttime inspections along major transport corridors.

Enforcement teams are checking whether speed limiters in vehicles work properly and continuously transmit tracking data to the Intelligent Road Safety Management System (IRSMS). The national digital platform tracks vehicle movements and compliance in real time.

The focus on digital monitoring and nighttime speed enforcement follows data showing that evening hours are the deadliest on Kenyan roads. Statistics from previous reports indicate that the period between 7 pm and 10 pm accounts for nearly 30 per cent of crashes nationally, and 26 per cent in Nairobi. The single hour between 8 pm and 9 pm is the most dangerous, driven by reduced visibility, speeding, fatigue, and drink-driving.

Pedestrians, cyclists, and boda boda riders remain the most vulnerable during these hours, particularly along poorly lit highways where drivers fail to spot hazards in time.

As part of the night checks, long-distance public service vehicle (PSV) operators must present passenger manifests, driver logs showing total driving hours, valid Road Service Licences, inspection stickers, and proof of compliance with licensed routes.

Officers are also checking driver licences, validating PSV badges, and verifying that vehicles do not carry excess passengers or freight. Passengers must wear seatbelts throughout the journey, while drivers face random breathalyser tests to catch drink-driving.

The campaign comes as the NTSA urged President William Ruto to declare road crashes a national disaster following a sharp rise in fatal accidents across the country this year. The appeal follows a crash in the Kanga area of Mtito Andei along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway on October 25 that killed 25 people.

NTSA reminded motorists that official speed violation alerts are sent strictly through SMS ID 'NTSA'. The agency advised the public to report suspicious messages and check updates on its website, www.ntsa.go.ke.