NTSA: 1,600 lives lost in road accidents in last six months

National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) Director General Francis Meja (left) and Deputy Director (Licensing) John Muya at a press conference. NTSA is concerned over increased loss of lives on roads due to reckless driving. [PHOTO: WILLIS AWANDU/STANDARD]

More than 1,602 people have died in road accidents in the last six months, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has said.

These are 89 more lives lost compared to the same period last year.

As at July 1, new data by NTSA shows, 1,585 people had died in road accidents, reflecting a 5.7 per cent rise from the 1,499 who died in the same period last year.

The number of those injured has also increased by 1,537 to 7,160. Of these, 2,606 sustained serious injuries while 2,969 had slight injuries.

Pedestrians were the most affected with 615 deaths and 584 serious injuries.

Some 193 drivers also died during this period, while 293 sustained serious injuries, 354 passengers died while 1,151 sustained serious injuries.

Some 106 pillion passengers (those on bicycles and motorbikes) were also among the dead, with 234 sustaining serious injuries.

Some 37 cyclists and 283 motorcyclists respectively died in the same period, while some 41 cyclists and 321 motorcyclists were reported as seriously injured.

"We blame these incidents on drunken driving, speeding and dangerous overtaking," NTSA Director General Francis Meja said while unveiling new regulations on drink driving on Monday.

These statistics come days after the ill-fated accident along the Kisii-Kilgoris road that marked the end of eight lives, among them six university students in their early 20s.

According to an eye witness, the students might have been drunk (as bottles of assorted alcohol were found scattered at the scene) and they were speeding.

As part of the new measures unveiled by NTSA, motorists will now be issued with new generation driving licences that are electronically connected to insurers.

Other steps taken include having insurers deny cover to un-inspected or unroadworthy vehicles.