[kictanet] Bringing Sanity Back to our Roads

Tue Feb 8 14:45:57 EAT 2011

I have once spotted one of Mr (ex-'honorable') Mr Thuo's buses using the
opposite lane, right into an ambulance with the siren on. The bus driver had
no qualms whatsoever to endanger even a medical emergency. It's a complaint
I'd still like to convey to Mr Thuo.

Anyhoodle. We can spend hours telling tales of horror in traffic. None of
this is rocket science to fix - other cities do it perfectly well. Accra has
long traffic jams, but they are well ordered. Separate lanes and stuff. As
long as there is no competent enforcement through the traffic police, it'll
just get worse.

Although, obviously, ever single one of us could do their bit.

On 8 February 2011 14:37, Ganson Lewela <glewela at safaricom.co.ke> wrote:

>  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
>
> 2.     By sending a tweet with the hashtag/s*overlapKE*
>
> 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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>
> --
> Francis Hook
> +254 733 504561
>
>
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-- 
Andrea Bohnstedt <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/andreabohnstedt>
Publisher
+254 720 960 322

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