KeNHA: Why movement of heavy recovery equipment is restricted at night

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has stated why the movement of heavy recovery equipment is restricted at night time.

The Authority said the movement of heavy rescue equipment is regulated under the East African Community Vehicle Load Control (Special Loads) Regulations, 2018 – Reg. 11(3).

According to KeNHA, the restriction is for safety reasons.

The Authority added that the movement of heavy recovery equipment is sometimes restricted during the night to prevent additional accidents, given low visibility and high risks on the highway.

“Moreover, in the case of an emergency, the owner of the recovery equipment could contact the Authority and a patrol vehicle from the nearest weighbridge would provide escort as they conduct the rescue services,” the Highway Authority stated.

KeNHA said its primary concern remains public safety and preservation of life.

According to the Authority, the weighbridge equipment performs vehicle load control under the Act.

A weighing station means a checkpoint or installation on any public road for weighing vehicles and includes all facilities.

The weighbridge is installed on parts of the road and a CS may notify through the Gazette increase or decrease the number of number of installed weighbridges.

The Authority said it shall install static weighbridges or cause other devices for detection to be installed on roads and may erect road signs which shall require any category of motor vehicles to be weighed.

According to the Kenyan Law, a person who being the driver of a motor vehicle or in charge of a motor vehicle, disobeys a direction on a road sign created pursuant to the provision of regulation 9, or when required to submit the motor vehicle to be weighed on a weighbridge by an authorized officer, fails to submit the motor vehicle to being weighed on a weighbridge or be tested by device, commits an overload offence.

The driver shall not, unless in accordance with a valid special permit granted by the Authority, drive or use, or cause to be driven or used on any public road in any motor vehicle whose gross vehicle mass exceeds the weight specified in relation to a vehicle.