THE number of road deaths dropped last year by 9.7 per cent due to
tough measures by traffic police and the National Transport and Safety
Authority.
NTSA director general Francis Meja said yesterday the authority will continue enforcing measures to reduce road carnage.
“We
will continue monitoring major highways especially now that many are
travelling back from the countryside. We will continue to have speed
guns as well as breathalysers on our roads,” he told the Star on the
phone yesterday.
Meja said 2,907 people died in accidents last year, compared to 3,218 in 2013 representing a 9.7 per cent drop.
He said 6,289 people were injured in 2013 compared to 5,140 in 2013. This represented an 18 per cent drop in fatalities.
“Slight injuries fell from 4,837 in 2013 to 3,971 in 2014 representing 17.8 drop,” Meja said.
The government plans to reintroduce mobile courts and issue smart driving licences by March.
The move is aimed at weeding out unqualified drivers and cutting down road carnage by 10 per cent, Meja said.
He said 14,344 people were involved in accidents in 2013 compared to 12,018 in 2014. This represents a 16.2 per cent drop.
Meja urged motorists to observe traffics rules to avoid accidents.
He said operations aimed at reducing accidents have been successful during the festive season.
The authority dispatched a team of 20 law enforcement officers to high-risk areas.
