It will require more than tough new traffic rules to curb road accidents

The increasing number of accidents brings into question whether the government’s efforts to curb the road carnage are well thought out.

The government has in the past responded to national crises with sporadic measures that deny the country an opportunity to debate problems.

At face value, all the measures being put in place sound good; sophisticated speed governors that cannot be tampered with, ban on night travel and so on sound quite fine. But shall we significantly reduce the number of accidents as envisaged?

JOHN MICHUKI

The problem of road accidents has not been lack of tough rules and sophisticated gadgets.

When Mr John Michuki was in charge of Transport, he laid down a workable template that was thrown out of the window almost immediately he was moved from that docket.

Have those initiating the new measures interrogated the reason why the Michuki Rules, after the initial remarkable success, failed to work?

This is where we ought to have started. Apart from a focused leadership, the transport industry needs to be managed using a new strategy.

The perception that players in the transport sector need punitive control measures should change. Self-regulation measures through the numerous saccos that have emerged must be encouraged.

The government must also involve players in developing rules, since they will easily abide by what they own and have been involved in developing. Rules are purposeful enterprises that must add value and not burden society.

TRAFFIC POLICE
Corruption on the road is another issue that needs attention. All police officers in the traffic department must be profiled afresh.

Without a deliberate effort to weed out corruption in the public transport sector, particularly within the ranks of the traffic police, the problem of road carnage will not go away.

The scrutiny of roadworthiness of public service vehicles and vetting by other agencies must be done transparently and insulated from corruption, especially in rural areas.

Instant fines for those violating traffic rules was innovative and must be encouraged across the country and institutionalised to insulate it from corruption.

Equally important is the need to establish the role of passengers in curbing road accidents. This means embarking on a massive education campaign to reach out to citizens to enhance public support.

RAPHAEL OBONYO, Nairobi