The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) in Kenya has expressed concern over the rising number of road crashes, with the country's road death toll approaching 4,000 this year. According to NTSA Director of Road Safety Dr. Andrew Kipalgat, the authority is mandated to implement policies relating to road transport and safety, but responsibility for road crashes extends beyond vehicle regulation and enforcement. Several factors contribute to fatalities, including poor road infrastructure, driver behaviour, and the condition of vehicles.
Despite years of road safety campaigns and enforcement operations, more than 3,000 Kenyans have consistently lost their lives in road crashes annually. NTSA attributes 17 per cent of road crashes to vehicle-related factors, but notes that determining responsibility requires examining the vehicle, road infrastructure, road user behaviour, and emergency response following a crash. Dr. Kipalgat emphasized that the authority's job is to bring down the number of road crashes, and that they are not at peace as long as the numbers continue to rise.
The authority has identified over 270 road crash black spots across the country, with 199 located along the Mombasa-Malaba Northern Corridor. Dr. Kipalgat pointed to the condition and design of some roads as a contributing factor to road crashes, citing the Salama section of the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway as an example. He suggested that dualling the highway could reduce the risk posed to motorists travelling in opposite directions.
NTSA has stepped up enforcement measures, particularly targeting violations associated with crashes occurring at night. Over the past three months, 25 drivers have had their licences suspended, while 20 matatu SACCOs have been summoned after their vehicles were flagged for violating traffic regulations. More than 2,400 vehicles have also been impounded during the same period.
The interventions come amid persistent concerns over road safety, with unroadworthy vehicles, unlicensed drivers, speeding, overlapping, and other traffic violations remaining common on Kenyan roads despite enforcement efforts. Dr. Kipalgat noted that the authority is working to address these issues, but that it requires a comprehensive approach that includes examining the vehicle, road infrastructure, road user behaviour, and emergency response.
According to Dr. Kipalgat, when a crash happens, it is essential to ask questions about the issue with the vehicle, the road, the road user, and the post-crash response. He emphasized that if these questions can be answered, then the issue of responsibility will become clear. The authority's efforts to address road safety concerns include public awareness campaigns, vehicle inspections, and enforcement operations.
The NTSA's efforts to improve road safety in Kenya are ongoing, with the authority working to reduce the number of road crashes and fatalities. Key to this effort is the identification of black spots and the implementation of measures to address them. By working to address the root causes of road crashes, the authority aims to reduce the number of fatalities on Kenyan roads.
Key points
- The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has identified over 270 road crash black spots across Kenya.
- Poor road infrastructure, driver behaviour, and vehicle condition are contributing factors to the rising number of road crashes in Kenya.
- The authority has stepped up enforcement measures, including suspending licences and impounding vehicles, to address road safety concerns.
