Road safety campaign launched to curb accidents during festive season

Crossing the road, fastening seat belts and driving while sober may be ordinary road-use activities.

But traffic police say lack of care in doing these caused the death of more 3,000 people this year.

The police, the Kenya Urban Roads Authority, matatu owners and the City Council of Nairobi on Wednesday launched a road safety campaign in a bid to reduce accidents during the festive season.

Roads Assistant minister Lee Kinyanjui said the government would use the campaign to catch rogue motorists.

“The government takes the campaign seriously. Previous years have taught us this is the season with most accidents,” he said at the launch of the campaign at the Machakos Bus Terminus in Nairobi.

Travelling for Christmas

The 10-day focus would be on major roads and bus stations in Nairobi which are expected to have a huge traffic flow as people travel for Christmas.

They include Machakos Country Bus Station, Nairobi Bus Station, Railway Station, Chini Ya Mnazi and Kirinyaga Road.

Other are City Stadium Junction, Buruburu Shopping Centre and Kangemi near the flyover on Waiyaki Way.

By Tuesday this week, 3,092 had died in road accidents this year with most deaths being due to poor judgement due to drunken driving.

“We want to advise people that the police will be tougher in ensuring no one is reckless,” warned deputy traffic commandant Samuel Kimaru.

Of these deaths, 1,466 were pedestrians trying to cross the road, 265 were suspected drunk drivers, and 768 were passengers. Motorbikes killed another 286 while 166 riders died.

More than 11,000 people are nursing accident-related injuries.

Mr Kimaru said that most of these accidents result from drivers driving while drunk, carrying of excessive passengers and pedestrians crossing roads carelessly.

Mr Kimaru also announced that police have road cameras mounted on city roads to nail rogue drivers.

Introduce alcoblow

On Wednesday, Mr Kinyanjui said they would re-introduce alcoblow to discourage drunken driving.

But the gadget will this time contain disposable parts in which a motorist will blow their breath to determine the level of alcohol in their blood.

The gadget had earlier been introduced then withdrawn in 2007 after motorists went to court, claiming it was causing them dangerous exposure to possible infections.