The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has raised concern over learners who have been crossing the Thika Super Highway at non-designated points, terming it a looming danger.
Central Region NTSA Coordinator Kendi Mutuma said the children cross the busy highway on their own to and from school, despite the many speeding vehicles plying on the road.
Speaking during a sensitization exercise on road safety along the highway Monday, Mutuma said they were working closely with the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to have guard rails erected along the crossing points to keep the children off the highway.
“It is a concern that young learners cross the highway to and from school on their own. Schools should have aids to ensure the learners use footbridges, while crossing the highway because of the risks involved,” she said.
The coordinator said they have been conducting sensitization forums at the schools to make sure learners use footbridges.
Through a programme ‘Vuka safe’, they have been giving the learners reflector bag jackets to make them more visible on the roads.
“We shall champion for the rail guards at the crossing points as we did for a footbridge at Njomoko near Thika and rail guards opposite Montezuma Funeral Home in Murang’a County, which were all done after the areas proved to be a blackspot,” she said.
At the same time, Mutuma raised concern over cases of high speed blaming it for the many accidents that have been witnessed along the highway over the past few months.
She said they would continue to conduct crackdowns and sensitization forums to ensure that drivers stick to speed limits and avoid fatal accidents, even as we head to the festive season.
The coordinator said the highway has several blackspots and advised drivers to be careful on the road to avoid accidents.
“We shall enhance crackdowns as we head to the festive season. We know the highway has several blackspots and we need our drivers to be keen when driving on the road. We shall also arrest those who have tampered with their speed governors,” she said.
By Muoki Charles
