When the ban on night travelling was
put in place, Kenyans sighed and for a moment we thought we had kissed road
carnage goodbye. The recent road accident on Chepsangor-Nandi Hills road that
saw 15 people die in an accident involving a matatu has drawn the attention of
the media and the country at large. With causal factors being that the PVS was
overloaded, carrying 21 people instead of the mandated 14 passenger limit from
which matatus coin their name.
An NTV report announced startling statistics that put the
death toll number caused by road accidents at 541, a 24% reduction from 2013's
739 total. In an interview with a local media house, NTSA's Director General
Francis Meja said that was indeed a good sign, pointing that Kenya was paving
its way towards the road of safety. He reiterated the recent public statement
from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure on their continual commitment
to accord stiff punishments to individuals putting Kenyans in harm's way with
regards to transport. The question that remains unanswered here even with the
directive from the ministry is: who is responsible for road safety?
In the wake of overloading and careless driving, it's no
surprise that the recent accidents at Nandi Hills and Salgaa continue to spark
public debate. Fingers are being pointed at the state, police, drivers and the
general state of the roads, with little being said on the passengers that board
these vehicles around the country. It is astounding that many Kenyans still see
seat belts as accessories that just make the vehicle look pretty as opposed to
at least ensuring their safety on the roads.
In the era of speed governors, the nation saw reduced
accidents and sanity restored on the roads. That is not the case anymore with
police being accused of propelling corruption to unimaginable roads and
sleeping on the job with improper checkups that do not fully assess the road
worthiness of vehicles. This allows for vehicles to be operated by unqualified
drivers while being in poor conditions with regards to busted tires, lack of
side mirrors, seat bells that don't work just to name a few.
Fred Omondi, a survivor of the Nandi Hills road crash is
still in awe of how he is still alive, sighting that the "sambaza
syndrome" is killing Kenyans on the road. When a section meant to fit 3
passengers allows for 4, 5 and even 6 people to sit and travel in discomfort.
The government is being criticized for not making the
matters worse with lenient punishments that sees traffic offenders pay a
minimal 300-500 shillings for offences that can be avoided all together.
Kenyan drivers have be described as "lacking
etiquette" with regards to being indiscipline and basically breaking all
road protocols with regards to speed limits, state of vehicles and their
engagement with the police and other road managers per say.
The death toll is worrying with road accidents claiming more
lives compared to other crimes combined! Initiatives that have been implemented
to put the number in check and possibly reduce it has been the age ceiling that
mandates drivers to retire at 65, surveillance cameras on accident-prone roads
like Salgaa, the ban on night travel, enforcement of road rules and ensuring
punishment when the rules are broken. Corruption remains a thorn that is eating
away road safety even in light of cashless payments of fines as that is a
phenomenon that has not enjoyed nationwide adherence.
But is all this really enough?
Motorcycles accidents
account for 20% of road accidents in Kenya. This has set Kenyans in both urban
and rural areas as hostages for accidents as currently there are no formal
traffic rules for motorcycles.
NTSA's director, Francis Meja, warns the nation to stop
engaging on a blame game and all and sundry to be active agents of road safety.
A call on the media to report people risking the safety of Kenyans on the
roads, VIPs to be good examples in upholding road rules, better infrastructures
and public awareness and sensitization on road safety.
The two most recent accidents still fresh in the minds of
most Kenyans, were as a result of overloading and freewheeling thus putting to
question whether the blame should entirely fall on the shoulders of drivers or
you and I have a stake here.
Another controversy lie in the irony that better rules
results in improved road safety. We put a ban on night travel, yet accidents
still occur in broad day light. We say old drivers are the reason for accidents
so we prefer younger drivers yet most are inexperienced and unqualified. We put
police on the roads to man traffic and keep drivers in check, they instead see
that as an opportunity to eat from the hand of corruption at will.
In combing out the situation of road carnage in an attempt
to have a clear perspective on matters, the eureka moment will only happen when
each Kenyan embraces their role as ambassadors of road safety. Whether you are
a state official, a VIP, a driver, a passenger, a regulator of road safety, you
are responsible.
Every Kenyan is valuable in nation building and reducing
road carnage goes a long way in maintaining a vibrant nation invested in
development.
Can you afford another dead Kenyan?
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