Why you are likely to die at 8pm on Kenyan roads

You are more likely to die in a road accident at 8pm than any other time of the day, a report has shown.

A shocking National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) 2015 Road Safety Status Report shows the risk of losing your life in a road crash is highest between 5pm and 10pm.

“Of the total 3,057 people who died in road accidents in 2015, 241 people lost their lives at 8pm, 198 at 5pm, 176 at 6pm, 186 at 7pm and 162 at 9pm,” said NTSA Director General Francis Meja.

Members of the public and the police at an accident scene in Kisii's Daraja Moja on January 12,2016 where four people lost their lives. The speeding passenger matatu hot a lorry that slowed down at a pothole. Leaders including the governor James Ongwae blamed the accidents that has been witnessed along Keroka-Kisii town on potholes.The vehicle plies Sotik-Kisii route. (PHOTO: DENISH OCHIENG/ STANDARD)

According to the grim statistics released by the authority, most fatal road accidents also occur over the weekends, with Saturday, followed by Sunday being the days of the week when most Kenyans lose their lives.

“High speed of traffic, motorcyclists operating without reflective gear and pedestrians crossing at undesignated areas, are some of the factors that contributed to high fatalities at those hours,” explained Mr Meja.

Drunk driving and walking, poor driving habits and reduced visibility are some other reasons blamed for the high number of road crashes which claimed lives of Kenyans.

Weekends worst

In the last two years, Saturdays have recorded the highest number of deaths compared to the other days of the week. In 2015, 603 people, which is 19.7 per cent of the total who died in the year, lost their lives on Saturday.

According to the statistics, 584 people passed away on Saturday in 2014 representing 20.1 per cent of the total 2,907 annual fatalities.

“Weekends contribute the highest number of fatalities with a combined figure at an average of 38 per cent in both 2014 and 2015.

Possible reasons for the deaths include high travel numbers, high speed especially on highways, drunk driving and motorists using unfamiliar roads,” added Meja when he released the report last Thursday.

Monthly fatality rates by NTSA in the lost two years show that most people died in December, with 304 in 2015 and 270 in 2014.

Based on age-group, persons between 20 and 44 years old are the most affected, with the peak age of most victims being 30 to 34 years.

“Members of the age-bracket are a high risk group as they tend to involve themselves in road safety risk factors like speeding and drunk driving. They also travel more,” said Meja.

The NTSA boss said although the number of deaths that occurred on the road in 2015 increased by 5.2 per cent compared to 2014, there was a slight drop in fatal crashes per 100,000 vehicles.

Board Chairman Lee Kinyanjui said despite the declining trend in the statistics, the numbers are still unacceptably high and the safety authority in conjunction with other partners, has put in place mitigation mechanisms to reduce the deadly accidents.

ICT innovations

“NTSA will in 2016 enhance the capacity of its enforcement officers. We are also carrying out positive engagements with development partners such as the European Union, World Bank among others that are geared towards supporting key road safety programmes,” he said.

Mr Kinyanjui added: “We further plan to increase public awareness campaigns targeting road users and also encourage public-private stakeholder engagement in safety initiatives. At the same time, we will continue with our engagements with the police and the various county governments.”

Other interventions the authority is considering introducing this year to curb the unnecessary deaths include leveraging on the use of information communication and technology innovations such as smart driving licences and new-generation number plates.

NTSA also plans on rolling out a new driving school and testing curriculum to improve driving skills, attitudes, driver training and licensing systems. The new curriculum is to be implemented by March 31.

As expected, motorcycles continue to contribute to the highest number of accidents, with at least 637 people getting killed through this means of transport.

The fatality rate in 2015 increased by 15 per cent as compared to 2014, where 553 deaths were recorded.

In 2015, public service vehicles (PSVs) contributed to 20 per cent of the total deaths, a significant drop from 2014, where the vehicles contributed to 42 per cent of the annual fatalities.

The vast decline in accidents involving PSVs is attributed to NTSA’s vigorous safety campaign measures targeting public transport operators, after it put in place new regulations targeting the operators.