Road users along the busy Nairobi-Nakuru highway have a reason to smile after the government moved in to mark black spots and put up roadsigns to address cases of fatal accidents.
Under the exercise by Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA), the latest and reflective road signs have been erected near Naivasha where more than 30 people have died since the year began.
The exercise comes a couple of weeks after the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) warned over an increase in fatal accidents along the highway.
Following the move, residents and drivers using the roads have welcomed the initiative noting that already the number of accidents had reduced in the last couple of weeks.
According to Dan Wainaina a resident of Kinungi in Naivasha, the exercise by KeNHA was timely and would help address the number of accidents.
He called for more speed bumps between the trading centre and Naivasha town as one way of reducing speeding among motorists.
“This idea is timely as the road signs are very big and can be spotted from a distance and they will help address the number of accidents,” he said.
This was echoed by another resident John Karanja who termed the assorted road signs as a blessing for motorists and pedestrians.
He, however, expressed his concern over rising cases of vandalism targeting the signs adding that this would derail the effects of exercise.
“Unlike the other road signs, these ones are reflective and can be spotted from far and we hope security agents will deal with those vandalising them,” he said.
A trader, Silas Maasai called for more road signs along the busy highway and mainly on the blackspots that dotted the busy road.
“For years this road had become the killer highway and we hope that the latest initiative will help address this and bring back sanity,” he said.
Speaking two weeks ago, NTSA Director General George Njau, said they were working with KeNHA to increase road signs along the major roads and fixing of potholes.
Njau said that the authority was rolling out intelligence road management and safety systems targeting PSVs as part of reducing road carnage.
