2.0 DRIVING LICENSE UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM

 The aim of introducing the new system is to replace the old system which did not differentiate between the types of licenses for driving passenger vehicles of different capacities. Under the new system specific class of driving license is designed to a certain class of motor vehicle only. Holders of driving license of certain class will be obliged to drive only such a class upon which he was tested for and not otherwise. In order to obtain the new driving license, all must undergo training to the recognized driving school (institutions) before they are issued with a new license. The system is categorized under different groups depending on the capacity of the vehicle namely:

A - License to drive motor cycles with or without a sidecar and whose capacity exceeds 125cc or 230kg.

A1 - Licenses to drive motor cycles without sidecar and whose capacity is less than 125cc or 230kg.

A2 – License to drive motor powered tricycles and quadricycles.

A3 – Licenses to drive moped whose capacity does not exceed 50cc.

B – License to drive all types of motor vehicles except motor cycles, commercial, heavy duty and public service vehicles.

 C – License to drive public service vehicles with seating capacity of 30 and more passengers in addition to the driver, Vehicles in this category may be combined with a trailer having a maximum authorized mass of not more than 750kg. Applicants must have held Class CI or E license for a period of not less than three years.

 C1 - License to drive public service vehicles with a seating capacity of 15 but less than 30.

Passengers in addition to the driver. Vehicles in this category may be combined with a trailer having maximum authorized mass of not more than 750kg. Applicants must have held Class D license for a period of not less than three years.

C2 – Licenses to drive public service vehicles with seating of four but less than fifteen Passengers. Vehicles in this category may be combined with a trailer having maximum authorized mass of not more than 750kg. Applicants must have held Class D license for a period of not less than three years.

C3 – Licenses to drive public services vehicles with a seating capacity of four or less passengers inclusive the driver. Vehicles in this category may be combined with a trailer having a maximum authorized mass of not more than 750kg. Applicants must have held a Class D license for not less than three years.

 D – License to drive all types of vehicles except motor cycles, heavy duty and public service vehicles.

E - License to drive all types of vehicles except motor cycles and public serves vehicles. Applicants must have held Class D License for not less than three years.

F – License to drive laying vehicles steered by their tracks.

G – License to drive farm or mine vehicles.

H – Provisional license for learner drivers.

Under this system all information regarding drivers will be collected through a computer system for data capture before the new license are issued. The aim is to ensure that a correct license is issued to a proper holder depending on the motor vehicle and designed.

 3.0 VALIDITY OF LICENSE The driving license will be valid for three years and the driver will be required to renew it after this period. This requirement is based on the road Traffic Act No. 30 of 1973 as amended under ( CAP 168 RE 2002) together with the road traffic rules of 2004 and 2010. 4.0 DRIVERS TEST

Before issuing a driving license to an individual, he/she must first attend a driving training and qualify. Thereafter such a person will be tested and awarded license for the grade which he/she has applied for and passed. If a driver wants to drive various types of vehicles, he/she will be required to undergo training for all driving license categories and on passing the test he/she will be awarded a license that will show all the license categories which he/she has passed.

 5.0 FEATURES OF THE LICENSE

 The license will be in a form of a smart card with the national flag and emblem on it. It will also have personal information about the owner such as name, date of birth, license number, date and place of issue and expiry date. Together with this information which will be captured in the license, other details relating to the driver such as his/her TIN, gender, address, fingerprints and his/her signature will be in the license.

6.0 OFFENCES

 All offences that will be committed by a driver will be captured by this new licensing system and this information will determine the fate of the license if the offence recurs.

The license can be suspended or withdrawn depending on the gravity of the offences.

 7.0 CONCLUSION

 The objective of introducing this new computerized driving license system by the government is to capture the correct data about the driver that will help in monitoring them and ensure that the government gets its due revenue.

It is the expectations of the government that this new system of issuing licenses will reduce road accidents which are mostly caused by drivers who do not have the necessary driving qualifications.

Those who have old licenses should start to prepare the necessary documents like certificate of competence and for those who intend to apply for a new license to go for training.

In this regard, members of the public are urged to start preparing themselves to get these new licenses.