Fact-Checker: CS Rotich could be right on accidents caused by second-hand cars

Second-hand cars at a shipping yard in Japan. Research in several other markets shows that accident risk and the probability of fatalities rise, the older the vehicle. [File, Standard]

Are the second-hand cars to blame for road accidents in the country? Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich last week said part of the government’s policy to propose lowering the age limit for second-hand car imports was to reduce road accidents.

“We want to ensure we do not import old cars like those over eight years which have many risks such as faulty brakes that cause accidents,” he said during a political rally. “We want to make sure people buy new cars and we will give loans to Saccos to make sure they buy new locally assembled cars to enhance road safety.” A look at several studies and data on road accidents indicates that Rotich is partly correct. On the one hand, the vast majority of vehicles in the country are second-hand cars.