NTSA Suspends Super Metro License,Cautions Public Not to Board Them
The National Transport and Safety Authority Act (NTSA) has suspended Super Metro Limited’s operator license until the Company fully complies with the Public Service Vehicles Regulations, 2014 and other set conditions.
In an official notice dated Thursday, March 20, NTSA further cautioned members of the public against boarding vehicles belonging to the SACCO.
“This is to notify the Public that the Authority has suspended Super Metro Limited’s operator licence until the Company fully complies with the Public Service Vehicles Regulations, 2014 and other set conditions,” the notice read in part.
Traffic police were also instructed to impound vehicles belonging to the company contrary to the suspension.
According to NTSA it conducted a comprehensive analysis on the super metro and found that out of its 523 vehicles, 15 had expired inspection certificates and eight of them had expired Road Service Licences (RSL).
NTSA also found that several drivers from the SACCO do not meet the required qualifications which presents a major safety risk.
Before the operation license is returned Super Metro has been asked to present 294 vehicles with violations for compliance inspection at the Likoni Motor Vehicle Inspection Center and obtain compliance reports for all vehicles.
It must also present 42 drivers out of 109 with speed violations for a retest at the Likoni Driver Test Centre. This is after 64 of drivers from Super Metro failed a retest on March 10, leading to the suspension of their respective driving licenses.
Further the company has been directed to present signed contracts for their drivers and other staff including proof of compliance, a six-month record of staff payroll, Pay as you earn (PAYE) NSSF and SHA remittances.
The management has also been mandated to 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.
The suspension follows a series of accidents that have been caused by Super Metro leading to the death. A most recent incident happened on March 12, where a tout allegedly threw a man out of a moving bus over an unpaid fare.
Although the management took action against the driver and suspended him, major complaints were received of other drivers over speeding and exhibiting reckless behavior.
