By Grace Gilo
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has suspended Super Metro Limited’s operating license over multiple violations.
In a statement, the Authority announced that the suspension takes effect immediately and would go on until the Company fully complies with the Public Service Vehicles (PSV), Regulations, 2014 and other set conditions.
“The decision was necessitated by the need to ensure the Company is not only compliant, but that it has put in place safety measures to protect the lives of its passengers and other road users,” read NTSA’s statement in part.
The Traffic Department was authorised to impound vehicles belonging to the Company found operating contrary to the suspension while the public was cautioned against boarding the company’s vehicles.
NTSA did a comprehensive analysis of Super Metro Limited’s operations and found that out of 523 vehicles, a total of 15 vehicles had expired inspection certificates, and 8 vehicles had expired Road Service Licences (RSL).
Additionally, it was noted that 5 vehicles had expired speed limiter certificates, 88 vehicles were not transmitting speed data, 171 vehicles had no speed limiter records, 7 vehicles had no speed limiter vendor details and 109 vehicles were operating beyond the speed limit of 80Kph.
Furthermore, it was established that the driving credentials of the drivers assigned to the Company’s portal do not meet the required qualifications, which presents a major road safety risk.
“The Company was also in violation of the provisions of the NTSA (Operation of Public Service Vehicles) Regulations 2014, Section 5, sub-section 1(e) which states: A person desirous of operating public service vehicles shall be a member of a body corporate which shall comply with labour laws and regulations including in respect to statutory deductions, health and safety of the workplace, Work Injuries Benefits Act (Cap. 236) Insurance, statutory leave days and written contracts of employment for staff,” added NTSA.
The Authority set conditions that to have the license reinstated; the Company must present the 294 vehicles with various violations to the respective speed limiter vendors for compliance checks, present 294 vehicles with violations for compliance inspection and obtain compliance reports for all the vehicles and that the Company must present 42 drivers, out of the 109 drivers with speed violations, for a retest at the Likoni Driver Test Centre.
Furthermore, the Authority wants the Company to immediately disengage unqualified drivers for the safety of all road users and to present signed contracts for their drivers and other staff.
“The Company must conduct Road Safety Sensitization for all its drivers and submit to the Authority the sensitization report, photos, minutes of the session and the attendance register. The exercise shall be facilitated by NTSA officers,” stated the Authority.
The Authority further cautioned that it would conduct a Compliance Audit on the Company.