The number of accidents in the country has risen by seven per cent compared to last year according to the latest statistics from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA). Pedestrians and motorcycle operators are leading in the figures while reckless driving has been termed as the major cause for accidents in public service vehicles.
In the figures, a total of 2,214 Kenyans have lost their lives from January to September this year compared to 2,053 in the same period last year.
According to NTSA director for Road Safety Njeri Waithaka, this was an increase in 7.4 per cent of the total accidents under the period. Waithaka said they had witnessed multiple fatalities at night in public service vehicles and pointed to the accident at Kimende along the Nairobi-Naivasha highway where more than 15 people died two months ago as the worst they recorded.
She said innocent Kenyans were being knocked by vehicles each day and pointed to irresponsible behaviours where they cross roads in undesignated areas as the main reason. Waithaka said they were carrying out periodic public education and awareness as a means of reducing the fatalities adding that majority of the accidents happened along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway.
NTSA records rise in fatal crashes. https://t.co/qhBTDKbG8R
— Daily Nation (@dailynation) September 28, 2018