- The authority's board chairperson said speeding, reckless driving, dangerous overtaking, drunk driving, drunk walking, drunk riding and failure to use seat belts, are known to highly contribute to crashes.
- Others are failure to use helmets by riders/pillion passengers, and failure to use available designated pedestrian walkways.
Image: GEORGE OWITI
National Transport and Safety Authority has said there is a need for collective responsibility in keeping our roads safe.
NTSA board chairperson Agnes Odhiambo said they acknowledge the need to do more in reducing fatalities.
In her speech delivered by Lower Eastern regional manager, Roseline Oloo, Odhiambo said vulnerable road users including boda boda riders, pedestrians and school-going children were paying the highest price.
"As of November 17, we have recorded 18,474 crash victims of which 4, 103 were fatal, 8,371 were serious injuries while 6,000 were slight injuries, " Odhiambo said.
Oloo spoke during the commemoration of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims at Kitengela assistant county commissioner's office grounds in Kajiado on Sunday.
Kajiado and Machakos marked the day at the same venue.
Government officials, private companies, NGOs and members of the public attended the event.
It was presided over by Isinya deputy county commissioner Justus Musau accompanied by area subcounty police commander Ancent Kaloki and Kitengela OCS David Ole Sani.
"We lost 1,486 pedestrians, 1,085 bodaboda riders, 721 passengers, 378 drivers, 377 pillion passengers, and 56 cyclists. Unfortunately, these numbers will keep increasing if we don't adopt road user behaviour and adhere to basic safety practices, " Odhiambo said.
The authority's board chairperson said speeding, reckless driving, dangerous overtaking, drunk driving, drunk walking, drunk riding and failure to use seat belts, are known to highly contribute to crashes.
Others are failure to use helmets by riders/pillion passengers, and failure to use available designated pedestrian walkways.
She said road traffic crashes were preventable if all road users played their part.
"We are undertaking interventions to reduce road traffic crashes," she said.
The interventions are finalising on development of the National Road Safety Action Plan to enhance coordination, management, and implementation of road safety priority plans, aggressively promoting the Usalama Barabarani campaigns and education programs across the country.
Other measures include developing a road safety curriculum for school children in collaboration with the Kenya Institute for Curriculum Development, improving driver training and licensing through the implementation of The Traffic (Driving schools, instructors and Licences) Rules 2020, conducting road safety audits in collaboration with Road Agencies to inform safe road designs.
Other interventions include construction, operationalising County Transport and Safety Committees to improve road safety at the county level, and coordinating road safety mainstreaming in all ministries, departments and agencies, among other initiatives.
Odhiambo said the authority will in the coming months be reaching out to various government agencies and stakeholders to prepare for the review of various legal instruments to address emerging issues in road safety management.
"We do believe the laws currently in place require alignment to best practices. We have seen policies relating to the use of new technology in addressing road safety challenges in other developing countries and we cannot be left behind," she said.
Odhiambo said in undertaking its mandate and implementing these interventions, NTSA relies on goodwill and collaboration with various stakeholders.
"We acknowledge our partners from the government, development partners and private entities who are supporting various road pillars identified under the Decade of Action. We can never thank you enough," Odhiambo said.
"We have a collective responsibility in keeping our roads safe. We must remember road crashes do not just happen, they are caused."
Odhiambo urged all road users to prioritise their safety and those of other road users as we approach the festive season and endeavour to make our roads safe.
The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is a global event during which we remember the many lives lost on our roads and those affected by this tragedy.
This day is an opportunity to appreciate and acknowledge the work of all those involved in the aftermath of road crashes.
They include police, ambulance personnel, doctors, nurses, counsellors, family members and all those who experience the disasters caused by road traffic crashes daily.
Odhiambo said as we witness the monumental scale of road traffic deaths and injuries, and potential risks to all users, the role of every stakeholder to bring to an end this surge can't be underscored.
"One life lost is one too many. Road safety is therefore a shared responsibility, and we must all play our parts," Odhiambo said.
"This year's theme is "Justice must be served to support those affected by road crashes". The devastation, the loss and suffering of the bereaved and injured can be unbearable," Odhiambo said.
She called upon the police, judiciary, and insurance companies to expedite all traffic cases before them.