Festive season need not be deadly while on our roads

It is usually a busy period for us in the National Police Service as many Kenyans wind up the year and proceed on holidays. Many people will travel long-distances to their rural homes, visiting with friends and relatives. Many will flock to shopping malls, churches and entertainment joints. As always, we are alert and ready to ensure the security and safety of all people, especially on our roads.

Sadly, the festive season has over the years seen reports of road accidents dominating news headlines. It has become almost predictable that accident rates will surge during this season. That need not be the case. There is evident need to do everything to discard this gloomy trend. We should not be fatalistic and resign ourselves to these depressing platitudes and saddening statistics.

Accident statistics

The Global Status Report on Road Safety released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) last Friday makes for grim reading. We should be concerned that road accidents have become the leading global cause of deaths for children and young adults aged between 5 and 29, with the highest death rates being in Africa, at 26.6 deaths per 100,000.

Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists bear the greatest burden, particularly in developing countries like ours.

Statistics from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) on road fatalities show an increase in the number of road accident victims from 9,680 in November 21 last year to 11,494 by the same time this year. The number of fatalities has also grown from 2,509 to 2,750.

We want to encourage all Kenyans to plan their travel schedules properly during this festive period. Proper planning will ensure that you do not have to travel on the busiest days, getting into traffic snarl-ups and then taking shortcuts that land you in trouble with the law.

For long-distance travellers, it is easy to plan your trip in advance, knowing when you will take your days off and do your booking in good time. By so doing, you avoid using public service vehicles that are not operating within the law. For private motorists, planning ahead enables you to prepare your car for the journey.

For those travelling short distances, it is useful to have a plan and familiarise yourself with where you are travelling to and the people you are going to meet. If you are going to an event and the likelihood that you will be taking alcohol is high, ensure you have a designated driver or better still, use a taxi.

Motorists should exercise patience at all times, even when running late. Exceeding speed limits and the recklessness that often comes with it should be avoided.

Police officers will be vigilant on our roads to ensure that traffic rules are not flouted and lives of Kenyans are not endangered. Whoever is bent on breaking traffic rules will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

Obey laws

We take this opportunity to warn those who imagine that they can take advantage of the festive season to break the law that the police have been put on high alert to deal with them in a firm and prompt manner.

All road users need to remember that adherence to the law will enable them to spend their holidays safely and in the company of their loved ones. Nobody would like to spend their holidays in a morgue, hospital or in jail.

The statistics from the NTSA show that the majority of fatalities from road accidents are pedestrians, meaning they need to be more careful on the road as well. They should use the designated areas while walking or crossing roads and not to be absent-minded. Cyclists and boda boda operators should wear reflective gear always, especially at night and always have their helmets and those of their passengers while on the road.

I want to emphasise the importance of the involvement of the private sector in road safety initiatives. Private sector players are constantly in touch with their customers and have the communication skills that can come in handy in spreading awareness about crucial matters.

Organisations that have an interest in road safety should work collaboratively to take their services closer to people to enable them have fun and celebrate with the confidence that movement on the road will be easy and hassle-free. 

There is no good reason to get behind the wheel of a car if you are drunk. It creates an unnecessary risk to the driver, other motorists and pedestrians.

Kenyans have witnessed the commitment from the police on the enforcement of the Traffic Act and related regulations this year. This will continue throughout the festive season, as we are committed to see Kenyans travel safely.

Even as we do this, we believe we can do better with the collaboration of everyone on and off the roads. We call upon wananchi to report any violation of the law, recklessness on the road, suspicious activity or person to the nearest security agent, police facility or call toll free numbers 999, 911 or 112.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2018!

Mr Boinnet is the Inspector General of Police