The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has cautioned Kenyan motorists against interfering with the speed limiters in their vehicles.
Often, the tampering is done by the motorists and car owners modifying their vehicles' electronic controls and deliberately making physical changes to the limiters to enable higher speeds.
In an advisory on Saturday, December 20, the NTSA said such an act is illegal.
"Speed limiters are mandatory safety devices required by law on all PSVs and commercial vehicles to prevent speeding, a leading cause of fatal road traffic crashes. Tampering with these devices is illegal, endangers the lives of passengers, pedestrians, and other road users, and undermines efforts to enhance road safety," the NTSA said.
The agency deployed its enforcement officers across major roads to inspect vehicles in a bid to curb road carnage during the festive season.
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In some of the areas, the officers encountered vehicles with tampered speed governors.
The agency warned the motorists, especially the PSV operators and heavy commercial vehicles, against interfering with the established limiters.
According to NTSA, such acts are a contributor to the increasing road accidents in the country.
"During the ongoing enforcement operations, we have observed increasing cases of speed limiter tampering. We strongly warn all public service vehicle (PSV) operators, drivers, and owners against tampering with or disabling speed limiters," NTSA said.
In the meanwhile, NTSA announced rolling out a nationwide traffic enforcement campaign, with several drivers already apprehended during random breathalyser checks on major highways.
In a statement issued on Saturday, December 20, the NTSA confirmed that the crackdown is in full swing as holiday activities peak, with officers conducting Alcoblow tests to deter drunk driving across Kenyan roads.
The agency reported that multiple motorists were caught along the Embu–Nairobi highway on Friday night, some registering dangerously high alcohol levels.
Photos released by NTSA highlighted one case where a driver’s breathalyser reading surpassed 550.0 mg/100ml, well above the legal threshold.
The authority reminded road users of the grave risks of impaired driving, warning:
“Drink driving kills. It threatens your life and the lives of others.”
Motorists intending to consume alcohol during the festive season were urged to appoint a sober driver or opt for alternatives such as taxis.
In addition to drunk driving checks, NTSA is also cracking down on speed limiter tampering, a violation the agency notes has become increasingly common during ongoing enforcement efforts.
