Speed governors help reduce road accidents: Report

The introduction of speed governors has significantly reduced the number of road accidents in the country, Transport Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau said Tuesday.

While releasing the first quarter report on accidents recorded, Mr Kamau revealed that 679 lives were lost from January to March 2014 compared to 880 deaths during the same period in 2013.

The number of serious injuries stood at 1,238 in 2014 compared to 1,597 recorded in 2013 representing a decline of 22.8 per cent and 22.5 per cent, respectively.

Mr Kamau said the Transport ministry would liaise with the Ministry of Health to keep track of those injured in road accidents for a minimum of 30 days in order to have more realistic figures.

He revealed that the government was targeting to reduce road accidents deaths from the current average of 3000 per year to less than 2,000.

Many public service vehicles (PSV), he observed, had complied with guidelines on new digital speed governors aimed at curbing road accidents.

Mr Kamau who was accompanied by National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) Chairman Lee Kinyanjui and other ministry officials asked commercial vehicle owners who were yet to fit the gadgets to do so to avoid being arrested.

The new speed governors, unlike the old ones that could be easily tampered with, are tamper proof and have the capacity to store information about a vehicle’s movement for a minimum of 30 days.

The Cabinet Secretary further said that the enforced law on drunk driving had also contributed towards the reduction of the number of accidents, particularly in Nairobi.

He disclosed that so far, 1,024 errant drivers have been arrested and Sh14.2 million collected as fines.

Mr Kamau said that the levels of awareness have significantly been enhanced and revealed that the NTSA would roll out the campaigns in all major towns in the country.

The government started enforcing laws on drunk driving in December 2013 after acquiring disposable breathalysers that were more hygienic.

The Cabinet Secretary however expressed concerns that motor vehicles on hire to social functions have been involved in fatal accidents because of ignorance of traffic guidelines.

He observed that some of these vehicles end up in routes that the drivers are not familiar with thus putting the lives of passengers and other road users at risk.

“We have noted that these vehicles are not only contravening the licensed routes but are also overloaded and are always speeding so as to arrive at these functions on time,” said Mr Kamau.

He further advised families to be wary during this Easter holiday saying that the government has noted that there is an increase in the number of road accidents involving pedestrians particularly on Sundays.

“This is due to increased movement and many social activities. We caution pedestrians to be extra careful while using the roads,” he said.

The statistics also indicated that accidents caused by motorcycles are also increasing.

He appealed to motorcyclists to adhere to traffic rules to avoid clashing with the law enforcers.

Mr Kamau said they had not yet received the court ruling that upheld carrying of luggage on public service vehicles but said they would study it and appeal in case they are not satisfied.

“We shall obey court orders because we respect the rule of the law. But, I have not received any summons to appear in court over anything,” he said.