A fleet of long-distance trucks on a typical Kenyan road. [Photo|Daily Nation]
The Parliamentary Committee has imposed a new directive that will force all long-distance trucks to have at least two drivers throughout the journey.
According to Transport Principal secretary Paul Maringa, the traffic officers and owners of the trucks will be punished for allowing them on the road and for driving them on the roads respectively.
Maringa said that all long-distance trucks will be compelled to have two drivers who will alternatively drive along the journey to avoid exhaustion of one driver.
He told the committee that the policy of having two drivers per truck has been in place but has not been observed by drivers, road safety officials, and stakeholders.
“Findings have it that most of the accidents taking place are caused because of human error, mostly by fatigued and stressed drivers,” Said Maringa.
Maringa also said warned that the traffic officers who will be on duty in the likely event of a road accident will be accountable and will be jailed.
During the Parliamentary Committee on Transport meeting that took place at the Parliament Buildings on Wednesday, the PS said from now henceforth it is not going to be business as usual for truck drivers who are used to solely driving long distances without assistance. Maringa warned that they will not like the amount of punishment on them after being tried in court.