In a bid to enhance road safety and prevent future tragedies, the government has announced new regulations that will make it compulsory for all public service vehicles (PSVs), commercial vehicles, and school transport to be fitted with dashboard cameras and vehicle telematics systems.

These advanced technologies, complete with GPS capabilities and black box recorders, will transmit essential data such as speed, location, maintenance, and servicing history, ensuring comprehensive monitoring and accountability.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen expressed the government's commitment to safeguard Kenyans through a raft of measures.

"My Ministry will soon come up with new regulations that among others will make it mandatory to fit all PSV, Commercial, and school transport vehicles with dashboard cameras and vehicle telematics full with GPS, black box recorder transmitting data such as speed, location, maintenance, and servicing history of the vehicle," Murkomen stated.

The introduction of dashboard cameras and vehicle telematics systems marks a significant step forward in ensuring road safety for all passengers and road users.

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These technologies will provide valuable insights into driver behaviour, vehicle maintenance, and compliance with traffic regulations.

This technology is expected to foster greater accountability among drivers and promote the adoption of safer driving practices.

Vehicle telematics systems, equipped with GPS technology, will allow authorities to track the location and movements of PSVs, commercial vehicles, and school transport in real time. 

By mandating the installation of dashboard cameras and vehicle telematics systems, the government aims to create a safer transportation environment.

According to Murkomen, these measures, combined with the removal of markets from road reserves and other previously announced initiatives, demonstrate the government's commitment to prioritizing road safety.

"We shall also remove all markets from the road reserves. These among other measures earlier announced should improve safety in our roads," the CS said.

As the nation mourns the loss of lives in the tragic Londiani incident, the forthcoming regulations offer hope for a safer future.

The mandatory fitting of dashboard cameras and vehicle telematics systems will significantly contribute to accident prevention and accountability in the transport sector.