876 killed on Kenyan roads in three months: NTSA

Road accidents have killed 876 people in the past three months, the National Transport and Safety Authority has said.

The deaths recorded between January 1 and April 16 this year are slightly fewer than the 882 who died in the same period last year.

Pedestrians, motor cyclists, and passengers account for the majority of those killed.

According to the latest report by NTSA titled Comparative Statistics Trends for 2017 and 2018, 333 pedestrians lost their lives in accidents between January 1 and April 16.

Latest report

Motorcyclists recorded 184 deaths while passengers recorded 171 deaths.

Drivers accounted for 87 of the deaths recorded by the agency, pillion passengers (boda boda passengers) 83 deaths, and 18 deaths recorded for pedal cyclists.

“The number of deaths recorded this year on our roads reduced marginally by less than 1 per cent but a huge decline in the numbers of those who sustained serious to slight injuries was recorded,” read the report.

The report indicated that the number of pedestrian fatalities had reduced from 339 to 333 while deaths recorded among passengers also scaled down to 171 this year compared to 197 in 2017.

Scaled down

Deaths attributed to drivers dropped from 91 in 2017 to 87 this year.

On the flip side, pedal cyclists, boda boda passengers, and motor cyclists fatalities increased compared to last year.

In 2017, 81 pillion or boda boda passengers lost their lives whereas 83 deaths were recorded this year.

Pedal cyclist deaths also increased as 18 deaths were recorded up from 14 in 2017.