Be careful before pasting the wide-load sign on your vehicle

Motorists displaying wide-load signs on vehicles that do not meet the stipulated requirements of the law risk a three-month jail term or a fine of Sh10,000.

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) in a press statement has warned owners of pick-ups against displaying the sign if the vehicles do not match the measurements provided in the constitution.

“Our attention has been drawn to the widespread display of 'wide load' signage on the front and rear of the pick-ups either when load carried does not exceed the overall allowed width or when not carrying any load contrary to the provisions of the law,”  reads the statement in part.

“Section 3 (a) of the Traffic Act Cap 403, states that ‘the required maximum overall width of a motor vehicle together with any load projecting beyond the overall width of the vehicle shall not exceed 2.65 metres,”  reads the statement.
According to the NTSA, most pick-ups have a width of 1.8 metres and therefore do not require the wide load sign.

The NTSA warns owners of pickups whose vehicles do not fall within the category against displaying the sign.
According to the Traffic Act within the constitution, those found to have broken the law will be required to pay a fine or face jail time.

“Any person who contravenes and fails to comply with any of the provisions of this part shall be guilty of an offence and liable on the first conviction to a fine not exceeding 10,000 Shs, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months,” reads Section 3(a) of the Traffic Act Cap 403.

This warning to motorists comes two weeks after the road regulator extended the expiry period of inspection bookings from 16th March to 30th May 2020 as one of the measures to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

“Those whose inspection has expired are required to immediately book through their TIMS accounts and present the booking slips to law enforcement officers when required to,” read a statement by the NTSA.