Police Headquarters has noted ongoing debate over the crackdown on unroadworthy and defective motor vehicles, particularly in relation to the inconvenience to fare paying passengers. While we appreciate constructive criticism, we are calling on the media to also tell the motoring public that traffic rules and regulations must be obeyed or people die and therefore the Police cannot and shall not compromise on this.

It is our firm position that unroadworthy and defective motor vehicles shall not remain on our roads. Indeed, as we have said before, enforcing the law is a legal obligation and not a public relations exercise. For this reason, for as long as there are vehicles on our roads that have not complied fully with legal requirements, the crackdown shall continue.

Our advice to the motoring public is that they should obey the law to the letter and maintain their vehicles in a mechanically sound condition so that the vehicles are not a danger to other road users and the environment.

In the meantime, we appeal to the public to refuse to be party in the attempt by unscrupulous PSV operators to blackmail the Police to prematurely relent on the crackdown. In any case the blackmail will not succeed.

Inspection statistics

Between 30th August and 3rd September 2006, the Motor Vehicle Inspection Unit has inspected a total of 74 vehicles as follows: -.
• Matatus - 64
• Busses - 8
• Others - 2 (pick ups, lorries, vans e.t.c.)

The owners have since been issued with Certificates of Compliance and can retrieve their registration numbers from the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.

Help keep our roads safe by complying with traffic rules and regulations.

(GIDEON M. KIBUNJAH)
FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE

5th September 2006