Agency bans use of police abstracts as substitute for lost driving licence

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has banned motorists from using police abstracts as a substitute for driving licences.

The agency said the decision was made after the Traffic Police Department made a formal complaint to NTSA on misuse of the document.

“The issue was brought to our attention by the traffic department. They complained of the high number of unlicensed drivers that were obtaining abstracts for lost, stolen or defaced driving licences,” director-general Francis Meja told the Business Daily in an interview on Wednesday.

NTSA said the move was aimed at curbing the misuse of police abstracts and reducing road fatalities due to accidents.

Drivers whose licences were lost, stolen or defaced are expected to apply immediately for new documents on the authority’s website or at the agency’s offices. “It takes less than five days for one to be issued with a duplicate licence after application,” said NTSA.

Drivers holding Kenya Revenue Authority receipts for the duplicate licence would be allowed to use them, but alongside the police abstracts. The duplicate licence receipt is issued instantly upon paying a Sh1,050 fee and presenting a filled out form, a copy of the lost licence and the police abstract.

“We will allow them to use the (KRA) receipt because it shows they have made an effort to comply with set rules,” said Mr Meja.

The NTSA said it had noted the emergence of high-risk driving behaviour by unlicensed drivers who had acquired police abstracts.

Road users who died due to accidents as of February 13 were 351, out of which 158 were pedestrians, 30 drivers and 88 passengers. Passengers, cyclists and motorcyclists injured were 19, 11 and 45 respectively.

Self-taught drivers have been obtaining the police abstract under false pretences and using them to drive on Kenyan roads.

The transport agency blames the high number of road accidents on the unlicensed drivers.

The NTSA set up an e-citizen portal on its website for registration and issuance of motor vehicle licences. Previously, the mandate lay with the Kenya Revenue Authority.

The authority has since last year tightened surveillance on roads, targeting speeding drivers with use of speed guns.

The agency said speed limits violation is one of the leading causes of accident.

The NTSA said it has 25 speed guns and 40 officers to enforce the rules.