Flashing lights in city centre pose a danger to motorists
If you live in Nairobi, you can’t have missed them, especially if you have been within the CBD at night.
Yes, we are talking about the bright flashing lights installed by Safaricom alongside CCTV cameras.
But the flash lights installed in Nairobi CBD are a risk to motorists, especially those that are epileptic.
Research shows that for people with epilepsy, exposure to flashing lights at certain intensives or to a certain visual patterns can trigger seizures. This condition is known as photosensitive epilepsy.
The very bright lights are also by affecting the vision of motorists in junctions and corners.
The project is funded by the central government in collaboration with the county government and is aimed at capturing motorists who jump traffic lights. At its optimum operation, it should take photos of offenders and bills them of the traffic offenses.
Speaking to the Nairobi News on phone, the Nairobi County Head of Communications said; “We are aware of the dangers the lights are imposing on motorist. This is basically a pilot project. We are just examining the way of operation of the whole thing to improve and make the final thing better.We shall soon pull the lights down and now install the perfect ones.”
He requested motorists to bear with the situation as the county comes up with a better system.
“Kindly bear with us. We are considering to reduce the piloting time. The lights that we shall put will blink only when a vehicle disobeying traffic lights need to be pictured,” he added.