NTSA: 1,554 people killed in road crashes in four months

Losing control has been attributed as Kenya's main cause of road crashes. This comes as road crashes across the country have claimed 1554 lives since the year started.

According to data from the National Transport and Safety Authority, these deaths occurred between January 1 to April 30, 2024.

Pedestrians remain the most vulnerable road users with 574 fatalities.

Following closely are motorcyclists who recorded 356 while 329 passengers died in the period under review.

At least 134 drivers have died in the first four months of 2024 while pillion passengers recorded 129 deaths and 32 pedal cyclists also died in the same period.

Commercial and bodabodas have recorded the highest number of types of vehicles involved in road crashes that caused deaths, with each recorded 356.

In the period under review, 342 privately owned vehicles have been involved in road crashes that led to deaths while Public Service Vehicles recorded 238.

According to NTSA, unknown vehicles accounted for 219 of the crashes while 24 were the number recorded by motor vehicles owned by the government.

Eight tricycles, known as tuk-tuks, and seven pedal cycles were involved in fatal crashes. Also, two donkey carts and one ambulance were involved in road crashes that resulted in fatalities

According to NTSA, March was the deadliest recording 403 road fatalities followed by April with 388 deaths.

As revealed in the data, January had 389 fatalities due to road crashes while February recorded 374.

Nairobi county leads accounting for the highest number of road crash fatalities at 176. Nakuru and Kiambu counties recorded 134 and 128 road fatalities respectively.

Recording the least road crash fatalities was Narok county at one, while Samburu, Mandera, and Lamu counties each had two.

Other leading causes of road crashes revealed by NTSA include failing to keep to the near side or the proper traffic lane, overtaking improperly, misjudging clearance and swerving.

Reversing negligently, mechanical defects, cutting in, and stationery vehicles dangerously placed have been highlighted by the authorities as some of the main causes of road crashes.

In April, President William Ruto put Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen on notice over the rising cases of road accidents in the country.

During the launch of the National Road Safety Action Plan 2024-2028 held at the Kenyatta International Conventional Centre (KICC, Ruto noted that the menace must be nipped in the bud and the accident cases contained.

"I look forward to one year from now we will have another meeting and Kipchumba Murkomen you better come with results that the numbers are coming down otherwise you will be in a lot of trouble," he said.

"The numbers have not been coming down they have been going up every year. Waziri (CS) and your team the numbers have to come down," Ruto added.

To curb road crashes, NTSA has adopted the 'Safe System' approach to save lives lost through preventable crashes, which is a holistic approach towards road safety.

The system that integrates road design and safety as integral components has successfully been implemented in the Netherlands and Sweden.

The key focus of the Safe System approach is to reduce deaths and serious injuries through design that accommodates human errors and injury tolerances.

The system addresses the safety of all road users including those who walk, bike, drive, and travel by other modes.