The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) in partnership with the National Police Service (NPS) is holding a month-long road safety sensitization campaign to mitigate the number of road crash victims during this festive season.
Speaking during a drivers and motorists sensitization forum in Likoni, NTSA Deputy Regional Manager, Coast Region, John Parteroi said most road crash victims recorded in the country were pedestrians.
“We have lost more than 4,282 people on the roads between January and the end of November this year, which is higher compared to the same period last year. We have lost more than 1,600 pedestrians and 900 bodaboda riders in road crashes,” said Parteroi.
The road safety campaign seeks to sensitize motorists and other road users on the importance of driving within the speed limits, crossing the roads at the designated points, and checking traffic signs among other precautionary measures while using the roads to reduce crashes during this festive period.
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“We started this journey on 10th December and continue sensitizing road users to be careful during this festive season. We have noticed that during the Christmas season, there is a surge in road crash fatalities,” said the NTSA Coast Region Deputy Manager.
He noted the Kilifi-Malindi highway as a major contributor to road crashes in the Coastal region.
“Especially past Kijipwa, Mtwapa, the road has been repaired so drivers tend to speed. There is construction going on along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway so the traffic there is a bit slower,” said Parteroi.
The campaign is being implemented with the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS).
Speaking during the forum, BIRGS Initiative Coordinator Vipul Patel said: “The public awareness to drivers and road users is very essential because we need a behavior change. Today I am very happy that NTSA is working with the police to reach public service vehicle operators and the private vehicle operators to ensure they know what the laws are and what happens if they speed.”
Meanwhile, NTSA has cautioned private vehicles from ferrying passengers during this festive season.
Parteroi said the authority has launched a crackdown on private car owners carrying passengers for a fare.
“We will continue with enforcement throughout this festive season to ensure that the vehicles on the roads are licensed and no private vehicle is carrying passengers,” he said.
