Rampant Road Accidents Pose sh310b loss on GDP Annually

By Dennis Dibondo

NTSA Board Chair Dr Manoj Shah has said the economic loss due to road traffic crashes in Kenya is estimated at about 5 percent of the GDP every year amounting to an annual loss of US$ 3.1 Billion or approximately Sh. 310 billion.

Dr.Shah said annually road deaths globally are about 1.3million. "Since the country relies on road transport as a popular mode of transport carrying about 90% of all cargo and passenger traffic yet remains the riskiest.

The sub-sector contributes significantly to employment creation, income generation, and improved internal and external trade," Shah said.

He spoke on Sunday during World Day of Remembrance of road traffic victims in Muthambi,Tharaka Nithi, where a walk was held at Nithi Bridge to commemorate the victims.

In Kenya, we lose over 3,000 lives annually. Majority being vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, motorcyclists among others. 

Majority of these incidents are behavior related factors and mostly result from the six fatal behaviors which include speeding, reckless driving, lane indiscipline, drunk driving, drunk walking, drunk riding, lack of wearing a seatbelt, driver fatigue and failing to follow road signs among others.

Dr Shah said commemorating this day, we are called upon to remember those who lost their lives or left to nurse serious injuries arising from the crashes.

He also called to support the grieving families who have to deal with loss of their bread winners or have to deal with huge medical bills as a result of the sustained injuries.

"We are, therefore, called to action in our different spheres of influence first by being careful on our roads and champions of road safety and also important, supporting those who are carrying the burden resulting from road traffic crashes" he said.

As we commemorate this day, we are all called upon to our enormous responsibility whether as Drivers, Pedestrians, Motor cyclists and all stakeholders to play our rightful role by Acting to prevent the needless loss of lives on our roads.

Road safety is a shared responsibility, let us commit to driving carefully, observing traffic rules, supporting those who have been affected by road crashes.

Together, we can make a difference. Dr Shah said NTSA was Strengthening road safety regulations with the ongoing development and review of various regulations; NTSA (Operation of Public Service Vehicles) Regulations 2014,NTSA(operation of Motorcycles)Regulations 2015, The traffic Act(Registration plates) 2016.

The public are encouraged to submit memoranda by 30th November 2024. He added NTSA is also Automating the Motor vehicle inspection process to enhance efficiency.

Increasing road safety audits that inform safe road designs and construction. Operationalizing County Transport and Safety Committees (CTSC) to improve road safety at the county level.

The Integration of road safety into Kenya’s school curriculum-NTSA in collaboration with the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) is steering the development and roll out of a road safety curriculum in addition to preparation of necessary materials for school children.

Road safety will also be integrated into the middle years of education and senior school curriculum. Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki took issue with Kenya National Highway Authority over their failure to redesign Nithi bridge despite the black spot killing several people from across the country for many years.

"We are being told empty promises each and every day, but nothing is happening in real sense for how long will Nithi bridge continue killing people," Mbiuki said.

Meru senator Kathuri Murungi said KENHA should prioritise redesigning Nithi (Tharaka Nithi) and Subuiga (Meru) Bridge that are black spots and have continuously killed several people.

"We do not want any more development kitties if we want Nithi bridge redesigning to be prioritised," Murungi said.