NTSA maps pedestrian black spots in Nairobi

A study by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has revealed five roads in Nairobi where pedestrians are likely to be involved in road accidents.

Mr Francis Meja, the head of the transport safety agency, on Thursday declared North Airport Road, Mombasa Road, Thika Road, Waiyaki Way and the Eastern Bypass as new black spots.

Speaking in Nairobi during the launch of a campaign to reduce road accidents, Mr Meja said the number of people killed in road accidents this year has increased compared with last year.

Between January and April this year, 804 people were killed in road accidents compared with 734 people in the same period in 2014, he said.

“Sventy-seven people were killed on Mombasa Road, 66 on Thika Road, 50 on Waiyaki Way, 30 on Jogoo Road, and 18 on North Airport Road in 2014,” said Mr Meja.

He said pedestrians were the most affected, an insight that buoyed his call for increased observance of road safety rules.

Regretting the upward trend in road accidents, Mr Charlton Murithi, the Traffic Police commandant underscored the need to put in place stiffer penalties to address road carnage.

According to Mr Meja, the major cause of the accidents is speeding and inadequate pedestrian facilities such as flyover bridges.

Mr Bob Collymore, Safaricom's CEO, challenged both individuals and organisations to join hands with the NTSA to ensure road carnage is reduced.