Remember to stay safe over Christmas

It is less than 72 hours to Christmas – that special day to a majority of Kenyans.

Even to those who pay no particular attention to the significance of the day, the holiday that comes with it is always a welcome break.

After a year’s back-breaking tasks and sacrifices perhaps, there is always the temptation to overindulge. It is easy to excuse the excitement, a little adrenaline rush and perhaps not just caring enough.

The ‘busyness’ of the season can have you rushing around with your mind going in too many directions to think about safety when you are out and about but there is no excuse in not trying to keep oneself out of the danger.

That last-minute shopping rush can leave you exposed to those who see Christmas as a lucrative time for crime.

Police have given assurances they will be on the lookout for thieves when crimes occur, but your own actions can go a long way in preventing Christmas crime in the first place.

With the state of our (in) security, avoiding crowded places is no longer a choice. It is the only thing we can all do over this season ­— avoiding crowded Public Service Vehicles, entertainment spots and even rallies.

Our roads are known to be among the most dangerous in the world but December always brings out the very worst in us as drivers, passengers and pedestrians. We can all individually make a decision to change this pattern.

The police are all around reminding us to avoid driving while under the influence of alcohol, speeding or even boarding a vehicle that is already full.

They can only do that but the actual decision to stay safe or avoid endangering other people’s lives is your own.

There will be mass movement of people – a situation that always repeats itself year in tear out.

There will be last-minute travellers getting stranded in bus-stations.

To cash in on last minute travellers will be unscrupulous bus companies organising quick travels to far-off destinations without caring about the road-worthiness of their vehicles or the drivers' knowledge of particular roads.

Be on the lookout for such arrangements.