In Summary
- As I write this, the country is caught up in the merrymaking that accompanies the festive season. Regrettably, this holiday season is also the time when road accidents are at their peak.
- Statistics show that the period between mid-November and mid-January accounts for about 25 per cent of road accidents recorded in Kenya.
When the Thika Superhighway was opened to road-users in 2012, there were many reports of accidents on a highway that had been constructed to ease traffic.
However, all these reports remained statistics until one day, the media put faces to the statistics.
It was chilling to realise that one of the victims was a school-going child whose promising life was cut short by an irresponsible driver in a hit-and-run accident.
That a mother and her infant child had died when the vehicle they were travelling in overturned after veering off the road; or that a young man who was on a job-hunting mission had lost his life.
These people died as they carried out their day-to-day activities. It is unacceptable that so many innocent lives are cut short on our roads.
FESTIVE MERRYMAKING
As I write this, the country is caught up in the merrymaking that accompanies the festive season. Regrettably, this holiday season is also the time when road accidents are at their peak.
This can only be attributed to speeding, overloading, and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Indeed, statistics show that the period between mid-November and mid-January accounts for about 25 per cent of road accidents recorded in Kenya. Last year, 46 accidents were reported between December 23 and 27 alone.
This year, we have lost at least 2,897 souls on our roads, of which 1,348 were pedestrians, 262 drivers, 730 passengers, 124 pedal cyclists and 293 motor cyclists.
For years now, pedestrians have accounted for the highest percentage of all accident victims, followed by passengers and drivers of PSV vehicles.
Lately too, we are beginning to see a growing trend where motorcycle fatalities are increasing due to an influx of motorbikes.
It is for this reason that the National Road Safety Trust was established in August 2012 to address the alarmingly high rates of road carnage.
The Trust is a partnership between corporate organisations, media owners and the government, through the National Transport and Safety Authority.
EMPOWERING THE PUBLIC
Through the Trust, we have run powerful communication campaigns; donated 11 speed cameras to the Traffic Police Department and provided free health and wellness checks to PSV drivers and touts in five cities and major towns.
We are pleased to see the energy and commitment of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure towards road safety right from the highest office in the Ministry, and in particular, through the National Transport and Safety Authority.
We are also happy to see other corporate organisations embark on initiatives aimed at empowering passengers and the public as a whole to take charge of their safety on the roads.
Drop by drop, mile by mile, we believe that every effort counts and all these initiatives by both the private and public sectors will soon bring sanity to bear on our roads, and subsequently end the unnecessary loss of lives on our roads.
So, as we proceed to mark what is arguably the most memorable season of the year, take responsibility for your safety on the road.
Do not drink and drive, stick to manageable speed limits, do not overload, and as a passenger, Toa Sauti! In the end, itβs your life at stake.
Have a safe holiday season and see you in the New Year!
Mr Collymore is a Founding Trustee of the National Road Safety Trust and CEO, Safaricom Ltd.
