The increased number of accidents has brought to the fore the need for a new approach to dealing with the menace.
Too many Kenyans in their prime, and infants are dying on our roads, mostly due to careless driving.
Most of the accidents involve public service vehicles. Driver error is compounded by poor roads and ill–maintained and mechanically dodgy contraptions.
What is the answer? A Bill that is yet to be debated in Parliament calls for drastic penalties for drivers whose carelessness leads to loss of life.
However, some of its proposals are not only scary, but could be unconstitutional.
The Government is at fault in several ways. First it has failed in its mandate to ensure all key roads in the country are maintained to the proper standards.
This includes filling potholes and putting up signs to guide both motorists and pedestrians.
The State has also failed when it comes to enforcing the law on public service vehicles.
The matatu industry remains an unruly sector that has, unfortunately, also become a cash cow for a few corrupt police officers.
Many public service vehicles have no seatbelts for passengers and drivers and are often overloaded, but get away with it after bribing police officers.
matatu drivers
Restoring sanity to the matatu industry will require a minister with an iron will, supporting legislation and backing from all arms of the Government, including the Judiciary, Executive and Parliament.
But private motorists are not innocent either. Many of them opt to follow the footsteps of matatu drivers and break all the rules of the highway.
As a result the cost of insurance premiums are rising across the board and may insurance firms have opted to steer clear of insuring vehicles.
