THE NATIONAL TRANSPORT AND SAFETY AUTHORITY (NTSA) IN KENYA HAS RELEASED THE LATEST
STATISTCS FROM THE MONTH OF JANUARY TO SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR SHOWING THE RISE IN NUMBER
OF DEATHS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.
According to NTSA statistics, the number of reported deaths has risen to 3,541 from January to September this year compared to 2021 where 3,286 deaths were reported this is a 7.8 percent rise
from last year .
Out of the total reported deaths, pedestrians accounted for the highest number at 1269 deaths, motor
cyclists 941, passengers 634, drivers and pillion passengers 324 and lastly pedal cyclists who accounted
for 49 deaths. Pedestrian accidents usually arise from use of drugs or alcohol or involve school going
children.
Crashes has been a key contributor to disability, burdens and poverty in the society as most of the
victims are the young generation who are the bread winners and this has called on NTSA to warn road
users to follow the rules and regulations governing road safety. This has been positively embraced by
some section of bodaboda operators who pledged to ensure the traffic rules are adhered to.
According to the authority, many factors has influenced the rise of road carnage some including over
speeding, driving under use of drugs and alcohol, passengers negligence on the use of sit belts , poor
roads and unworthy state of vehicles .
Majority of road accidents has been reported to occur on Friday, Saturday and Sunday majority of
victims being the young generation between the age of 30-34 years, followed by the age of 25-29 years
and lastly 35-39 years.
George Njao the NTSA director said “ high rates of accidents reported is as a result of competition in
roads ,lack of good morals ,driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol and non-implementation
of traffic laws by road users such as use of sit belts ,speed governors and road signs “
Road crashes can be prevented by both the government and citizens through cooperation between
various sectors such as police, transport and road users. The government should raise public awareness
on the importance of adhering to laws, coming up with harsh fines to law breakers and designing safer
infrastructure.
“Approximately 1.3 million people loses their life’s yearly as a result of road crashes and
approximately 20-50 million people are left with injuries and others resulting to disability and this has
led to economic loses as a result of deaths and treatment burdens “this is according to WHO.
The government approved a national road safety policy that outlined various measures such as
establishment of road safety information data base, creation of awareness, construction of safer
infrastructure, enforcement of laws and application of intelligent transport.
By Emmaculate Wamalwa
