Road carnage is one of the major causes of death in Kenya. At least 3,000 lives are lost annually on the roads. This has been the trend over the years despite efforts by various stakeholders to contain the menace.
According to the 2023 Economic Survey, Kenya lost 4,690 lives on the roads in the year 2022. This representing a 5.5 per cent increase from 2021 where 4,579 deaths were reported.
This year, the situation appears bleak and could worsen if urgent measures are not taken to address the scourge.
According to the National Transport and Safety Authority report, more than 2,000 Kenyans have perished on the roads between January and July 2023.
At the beginning of July this year, for instance, in one of the most fatal accidents witnessed in Kenya in the recent past, the driver of a truck lost control and rammed into several vehicles ferrying passengers in Londian. The accident left in its wake more than 51 people dead and scores injured.
Most of the accidents on the roads are attributed to human error, which means they could have been avoided if everyone was extra careful. Some of the common causes of accidents on the roads include speeding, drunk driving, crossing at undesignated places, driving unworthy vehicles, fatigue and disobedience to the traffic rules, among others.
The government has on various occasions come up with measures to address the tragedy. This, however, has not been effective given that most of the measures put in place are knee-jerk reactions which only fade with time, akin to treating symptoms instead of the malaise.
In April this year, the government came up with a raft of measures to help address the run away cases of road accidents.
Among them was the directive by the government to all drivers of public vehicles to undergo mandatory driving tests every after every three years. Also, mandatory physical tests before renewal of the driving license. Trainees wishing to acquire new driving licence were also required by law to provide medical certificates as an indicator of good health.
Those drafting the new laws might have had Kenyans interest at heart but failed to see the loopholes that would be exploited by the rogue law enforcers. There are allegations that one can circumvent the vetting exercise by bribing the law enforcers. Word on the street has it that some drivers part with up to Sh4,000 to get a clean bill of health from the unscrupulous officers. This is quite dangerous as it grants the unqualified drivers access to our roads putting lives of other road users at risk.
In addition, many drivers feel that the mandatory Sh1,050 fee charged by the driving schools in order for one to book for a driving test before renewing their driving licenses are punitive. This has led to a backlash from the stakeholders and threatens to scuttle the whole exercise.
The government held talks with the drivers and owners of public service vehicles in a bid to reach a middle ground and enhance safety on our roads. This is still work in progress.
The problem ailing Kenya on the roads is not absence of sufficient legislations to guide road users and tame road carnage, but laxity on part of the law enforcers.
PSVs are required by law to be fitted with working speed governors and seat belts. This, however, is only true on paper as many of the vehicles have faulty speed governors if any, despite having inspection certificates from the government. Most of them lack seat belts and are ticking time bombs. In case of any accident passengers are vulnerable.
It is common nowadays to see vehicles carrying beyond capacity plying our roads. Many passengers would be crowding in the isles of the PSVs jostling for the limited space. The vehicles would pass through police roadblocks where officers manning them would receive bribe to look the other way.
Passenger, on the other hand, act as if it is normal, none of them complains until an incident occurs, that’s when you will hear someone lament that they had boarded and overloaded vehicle.
Concerted efforts will help us contain the road carnage menace. The government needs to not only come up with laws to guide road users, it also needs to ensure that these are implemented to the latter. The road users flouting the rules should be apprehended and charged in court. Also, the rouge law enforcers who fail to adhere to the traffic rules should also be prosecuted.
Road unworthy vehicles should not be allowed on our roads. This can only be guaranteed by ensuring that officers giving licence to operate on the roads are of high integrity. This will ensure that only the deserving road users get the green-light to operate.
The government should also be on the fore front to educate the road users on road safety. This should be done regularly and if possible be incorporated in the basic education curriculum.
Passengers, pedestrians and all other road users also need to act responsibly. Passengers should report to authorities the errant drivers, especially those driving public service vehicles.
In the same vein, passengers should shun vehicles carrying excess passengers or report them to law enforcers. They should in addition note down the identification of the rogue law enforcers and report them to the higher authority.
Pedestrians should also adhere to the traffic rules. Those crossing busy roads should do so at the designated points.
