The government is appealing to hospitality investors to establish more rest points to serve long distance transport vehicles among other travellers along major highways.
While commissioning a new rest point in Nakuru on Monday, National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) board Chairman Lee Kinyanjui observed that there was a need for more rest points along the highways used by long distance transporters among other travellers to increase their security and accidents levels.
Kinyanjui observed that lack of enough rest points was not only a security hazard but also a catalyst to the high level of road accidents involving long distance transport operators in the country. He added that highways that need the services are; Nairobi-Mombasa, Nakuru-Nairobi, Nakuru-Kericho, Nakuru-Eldoret, Eldoret-Malaba, Kerich–Kisumu and Kisumu- Busia.
“We should encourage the setting up of more rest points along the highways used by long distance transporters and other travellers to boost their security and reduce the number of accidents, since they will be having enough rest. It is worth noting that fatigue contributes to careless driving while parking at any point along the the highways exposes the operators to attack by criminals,’’ said Kinyanjui.
According to the NTSA boss, the State was committed towards supporting investors in hotels, petrol stations, parking and garages along the highways as they largely contribute towards sustainability of the transport industry.
He noted that the authority recommends that long distance transport operators get enough rest and access safe parking and repair joints along the highways to increase their security and reduce road accidents.
“Long distance transport crew members should have enough rest and park their vehicles at safe places where they cannot be exposed to criminals. There should also be enough filing stations and garages along the highways to enhance maintenance of the vehicles to mitigate break downs and accidents,’’ said Kinyanjui.