47 Kenyans die on roads in a week as NTSA says accidents have reduced

Naivasha residents at the scene of an accident involving two Lorries at Kihoto area along the Naivasha- Mai Mahiu Highway. Four occupants were injured after the two vehicles that were ferrying goods to Nairobi caught fire. (PHOTO: ANTHONY GITONGA/ STANDARD)                                                                        

Latest data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has shown a slight reduction in fatalities compared to 2015 even with the recent cases of increased road accidents.

According to NTSA, as at December 8, 2,741 persons have lost their lives on road crashes compared to 2015's 2,831.

Of this, pedestrians still make the biggest number at 1,023 followed by 669 motorcycle related deaths, 658 passengers, 322 drivers and 69 pedal cyclists.

The numbers represent a three per cent reduction in road fatalities but a recent trend threatens to change NTSA's milestones.

In less than a week, a total of 47 Kenyans have lost their lives on the road.

Four people died on Friday when a bus belonging to TSS Company veered off the road in Mazeras, Kilifi County on its way to Mombasa, injuring 21 others.

According to NTSA's data, commercial vehicles like tankers and canters are the second leading in road fatalities cases with 29 per cent.

Private vehicles are leading with 30 per cent.

"Most times people assume that Public Service Vehicles are the leading in fatalities because they openly flout traffic regulations but that is not the case," explained Dr Duncan Kibogong from the authority's road safety department.

He added: "That is why we are coming up with regulations to specifically enforce sanity in commercial transport. This sector has been lying unregulated for some time."

The data ranks motorcycles as the third with 21 per cent, followed by Public Service Vehicles (PSV) 19, and government vehicles at one per cent.

Kibogong noted that whereas implementation of PSV regulations have achieved reduction of fatalities from 40 per cent in 2013 to current 19, road safety interventions on commercial and private vehicles should be prioritized.

"This includes enactment of appropriate laws, education and enforcement," he said.

Tricycles and tuk tuks were noted to contribute less than one per cent of the accidents.