Roads safer as agency reports reduced accidents in one year
The number of deaths on Kenyan roads has dropped from a high of 1,021 to 974 over the last one year, according to data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).
The data reveals a drop in road fatalities involving pedestrians, pillion passengers and motorcyclists over the last one year.
It shows that as of yesterday, 330 pedestrians had been killed in road accidents compared to 359 at the same time last year.
The data however shows that 98 drivers had perished in road accidents as of yesterday, compared to 95 at the same time last year.
Further, the data shows that 171 passengers have perished as of yesterday, compared to 154 fatalities at the same time last year.
It however shows a drop in the number of pillion passengers who have died as of yesterday, 93, compared to 109 at the same time last year. There is also a marginal rise in the number of pedal cyclists who have perished on Kenyan roads, 17 as of yesterday, compared to 15 in March last year.
There is however a drop in the number of motor cyclists who have perished on Kenyan roads as of yesterday, 265, compared to 289 at the same time last year.
Significant drop
Overall, there is a significant drop in the number of fatalities on the country’s roads, 974 as of yesterday compared to 1,021 at the same time last year.
“This reduction is mainly attributed to increased public education and awareness through the Government Road Safety Mainstreaming Programme and the Usalama Barabarani Campaign supported by the European Union. The road safety sensitization initiatives are geared towards behaviour and attitude change especially among vulnerable road users,” read a statement from NTSA.
The authority warned road users to exercise extreme caution during the ongoing heavy rains pounding various parts of the country.
“In the past, we have witnessed unnecessary loss of lives due to poor driver judgment. Incidents of drivers operating school buses, public service vehicles and heavy commercial vehicles in an attempt to drive through water resulted into both serious and fatal injuries. We call upon drivers not to endanger their lives and that of their passengers as hydroplaning is a serious threat during the rainy season,” read the statement.
The Authority also called for caution on the roads as the country approaches the Easter festivities early next month.
Festivities
“As the Easter Festivities approaches, we request road users to engage in safe road use practices, exercise caution and be mindful of others as road safety is a shared responsibility,” NTSA added.
Data released by NTSA late last year showed that the Thika Superhighway, Outering Road and Waiyaki Way are among the roads that have recorded the highest number of accidents in Nairobi.
The study compiled by the roads agency between January 1 and August 31, 2022, showed that the found that Thika Superhighway was the most notorious in terms of accidents with 44 crashes, followed by Outering Road which recorded 43 cases.
Other highly dangerous roads included Waiyaki Way which recorded 23 while both Mombasa Road and Northern Bypass had 17 accidents within the period under review.
“Eastern Bypass recorded 15, Ngong Road at 13 and Jogoo Road had 8,” said the NTSA data.
Overall, the report shows that Nairobi recorded 357 deaths out of the 3,202 fatalities that occurred as a result of road accidents countrywide in the period under review.
The data further showed that pedestrians were the biggest casualties with 199 losing their lives on Nairobi roads.
Motorcyclists followed with 81 deaths, passengers at 28, drivers -26, pillion passengers -17 and pedal cyclists at six.
Last year, Infrastructure CS Kipchumba Murkomen said 4,449 people lost their lives in the last year, a 3% increase from 2021 when there were 4271 cases.
CS Murkomen there were 403 driver fatalities overall, 1,190 motorcycle riders, and 1595 pedestrians. In the same period, 1,204 passengers perished. At least 997 privately owned vehicles were involved in accidents, PSVs (565), Unknown (506) while Government cars (41), tricycles (26), pedal cycles(10), handcarts(4) and three ambulances.
