The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) have launched a joint campaign on safety and mindfulness on the road even as most Kenyans continue to travel to different parts of the country to celebrate with their loved ones.
In a statement on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, KeNHA stated that they had launched a campaign targeting public service vehicles and heavy-load trucks plying the Northern Corridor which connects Mombasa to all the landlocked countries in the East and Central Africa’s Great Lakes region.
“KeNHA in collaboration with NTSA has launched a joint road safety sensitization campaign targeting drivers of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) along the Northern Corridor,” the statement read in part.
Adding: “This week-long exercise has commenced in Mombasa and aims to raise awareness about safe road practices, particularly as the festive season approaches. Through engaging drivers directly, the campaign seeks to promote adherence to traffic regulations, enhance their understanding of road safety measures, and ultimately reduce accidents.”
The campaign comes just days after Transport PS Mohamed Daghar appealed to motorists to observe traffic rules to minimize cases of accidents and injuries during the festive period.
“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. Let us obey traffic rules, respect speed limits and stay vigilant on the roads. Together we can save lives and make our roads safer for all,” PS Daghar said on December 13, 2024.
Road crash statistics
In its mid-year report, NTSA revealed that 2,407 Kenyans were killed in road accidents between January 1, 2024 and July 7, 2024.
The report also indicated that the majority of the deaths involved innocent pedestrians, motorcyclists, passengers and pillion passengers.
This was a 2.8 per cent increase from the previous year, with the authority recording 11,502 road crashes, resulting in 6,083 serious injuries and 4,083 minor injuries.
Pedestrians at risk
Those who died on the roads included 919 pedestrians, 210 drivers, 478 passengers, 199 pillion passengers, 46 pedal cyclists, and 555 motorcyclists.
NTSA linked the loss of lives to factors such as minimal enforcement during peak hours like Saturday, Monday, and Sunday evenings, high traffic volumes, and pedestrians crossing at undesignated zones.
NTSA also blamed driver fatigue, poor visibility, particularly for pedestrians, and drunk driving as significant contributors to the rising crashes.
On his part, former Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen revealed that most crashes in the cities occurred between Friday and Monday mornings, mostly due to drunk driving.
