[kictanet] Bringing Sanity Back to our Roads

Tue Feb 8 14:37:38 EAT 2011

Guys. I did not read anyone talk of the matatus which drive in opposite
dual lanes at Jogoo road so often in the morning. Literally keeping
right as if we were in the US with so much confidence while others go on
the pavements. This is done by Nissan type matatus and what I call
Mitsubishi lorries which have been made into a big Matatus. This is the
highest level of impunity. If you see these matatus, then overlapping is
just child play.!!!.  In a dual carriage way someone has the guts to go
the to the other road for oncoming vehicles and drive against the
oncoming vehicles. That is committing murder in daylight. Something even
Ambulances rarely do here in Kenya. I think we need camera (s) to be put
on top of the foot bridge across Jogoo road near Uchumi Jogoo Road to
capture these vehicles and let the photos be taken to Traffic HQ. The
Camera can use wireless technology to convey the pictures to a central
place. Because this acts occur along that stretch.

The other thing I wonder about is whether this generation does not know
the meaning of traffic lights.  When the traffic lights show red for
pedestrians that is when they decide to cross. When you are driving and
you stop at the traffic lights because they are indicating (red) stop,
some drivers behind you start hooting!! Blatantly confirming to you that
they do not care about the traffic lights and their purpose. How do you
get pedestrian and drivers out of such impunity. !!!. It start with me.
I have decided that I will endeavour to follow the traffic lights
whatever other do whether hoot etc. But we I need more volunteers on
this so that we can start the change from traffic rule impunity to
traffic rules obedience.

Thanks.!!!.

From: kictanet-bounces+glewela=safaricom.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke
[mailto:kictanet-bounces+glewela=safaricom.co.ke at lists.kictanet.or.ke]
On Behalf Of Andrea Bohnstedt
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2011 3:25 PM
To: Ganson Lewela
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Bringing Sanity Back to our Roads

'Overlapping' happens absolutely everywhere. By matatus, by big buses,
by taxis, by normal drivers, by people in posh four-wheel drives. A
four-wheel drive with a diplomatic number plate squeezed past me
yesterday whilst the driver was on the phone no less. 

I had a four-wheel drive and a matatu literally (and I mean literally)
in the back of my knees walking my dog to the vet. On the pavement. A
policeman stood around the corner dreamily staring into a bush.  

I think the name-and-shame approach is a start - because everything else
looks so hopeless: Part of Nairobi's nightmare traffic could be resolved
if everyone were either a bit more willing to obey traffic rules and
consider the life and health of their fellow citizens, or if the traffic
police enforced rule-abiding behaviour rather than shake everyone down
for a bribe and then let them do the same thing again. 

In addition, I'd love a public education campaign on the basics of
driving. E.e. some explanation of what a slip road is (to slip into
traffic, not to crouch at the beginning, and then fling yourself across
several lanes like the metaphorical lemming with a death wish), that the
use of an indicator is ever so helpful for anyone behind you because it
actually indicates where you're going, ...... 

I'd like a matatu/bus lane only to be used by matatus/buses - but they
mustn't leave it. 

I'd like each matatu to have a number to clearly identify it, and a
central register where you can report them. Yeah, I know, funny. 

Does anyone have any better ideas?  

On 7 February 2011 14:43, Francis Hook <francis.hook at gmail.com> wrote:

With all due respect to the developers/promoters of this, I do not get
it.

1 - overlapping - We all know where motorists tend to overlap (Waiyaki
Way from Lion place all the way to Old Safaricom house, Lower Kabete
Road near Sarit Centre, the deceleration lane after brookside drive,
etc) - that remains constant given the fixed nature of roads.   How does
this help?

2 - Speeding - this is a variable in the sense that it has nothing to do
with location rather the driver and the time of day and traffic
conditions.  It may happen along the 200 stretch of road outside the
Mall/Bus stage - or it may happen between kangemi and ABC Place - again,
how is this useful?

3 - 

How to Report

1.     By sending an email toalert at overlap.co.ke
<mailto:alert at overlap.co.ke> 

2.     By sending a tweet with the hashtag/soverlapKE

3.     By filling this form <http://www.overlap.co.ke/reports/submit/> 

I do not think I need to explain - perhaps a passenger can take their
eyes off the road to key in this info but a driver SHOULD not - and if
its not real time info, then its no good.

4 - Defective/unroadworthy car - I'd rather have real time info on
serious accidents (trailer lying across the road from 0900....or road
closed for construction/etc etc - that unroadworthy car will move off
the road or get towed eventually....

As a tax payer, one thing I would not mind seeing is reports of GK
vehicles being driven after hours or on the weekend (at least for any
whistle blowing value that may have).   Also car jacking black spots.

I also have concerns on how the reporting is moderated - what is to stop
someone submitting false information.   I recall pointing out this
particular aspect to one of the developers/founders of Ushahidi - esp
any affect that may have had on perpetrating PEV and helping the mobs
know where to avoid or where to go...

On 7 February 2011 14:17, Norman Boinett <nboinett at gmail.com> wrote:

	I came across this site  Overlap.co.ke
<http://www.overlap.co.ke/>  ( #overlapKE ) posted by Bankelele I think
it is a great idea and it definitely  needs our support. it helps rank
serial over-lappers it also points out over-lapping hot-spots.

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