80 per cent of road accident victims are male, says report
An accident on Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi. The county recorded almost three times as many deaths in road accidents as Kisumu and Mombasa between January and December 10, a report by the National Transport and Safety Authority says. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The report, covering January to December 10, says 2,330 male road users and 592 females had died since January.
- Regionally, Nairobi County, with 411 deaths, leads in the number of fatalities nationally, followed by Kiambu County with 270 and Nakuru County with 230.
- Other counties with more than 100 deaths are Machakos (178), Kericho (124) and Makueni (105).
Males accounted for 80 per cent of the 2,922 road fatalities recorded by the beginning of last week, the latest report by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) shows.
The report, covering January to December 10, says 2,330 male road users and 592 females had died since January.
But it was still lower compared with 2017, when 2,342 males and 577 females died over a similar period.
October was the deadliest month, with 289 deaths recorded. This was 20 more than last year’s worst month, March, when 269 fatalities were recorded.
October was followed by August and April, with 278 and 269 deaths respectively. Other months during which more than 200 people died are September (266), February (257) and July (248).
MICHUKI RULES
Notably, 246 deaths were recorded in November, six more than in 2017, despite the famous “Michuki rules” being revived to reduce road carnage and streamline public transport.
Regionally, Nairobi County, with 411 deaths, leads in the number of fatalities nationally, followed by Kiambu County with 270 and Nakuru County with 230.
“This is almost triple the numbers for the other two cities in the country, which have recorded a total of only 142 fatalities since January. Mombasa and Kisumu have recorded 46 and 96 fatalities respectively,” the report says.
Other counties with more than 100 deaths are Machakos (178), Kericho (124) and Makueni (105).
The counties with the fewest deaths were Elgeyo Marakwet (4), Tharaka-Nithi (8), Isiolo (9), Mandera (9), Wajir (10) and Marsabit (10).
PRIVATE VEHICLES
Meanwhile, private vehicles caused 756 deaths, commercial vehicles 672 deaths and public service vehicles 570 deaths. Together they accounted for 69 per cent of the total deaths.
Motorcycles, and hit-and-run vehicles caused 486 and 373 deaths, with government vehicles causing 37, tricycles 10, pedal cycles 11, and handcarts 1.
Pedestrians continued to top the list of casualties, with 1,117 having been killed, compared with last year’s 999.
Motorcyclists (boda boda) came second with 775 deaths, an increase from last year’s 674.
Passengers come third with 682 deaths, also an increase from last year's 650 while 58 pedal cyclists died, an increase of four compared to a similar period last year.
ROAD ACCIDENTS
But the number of drivers who died in road accidents fell from 290 last year to 285 this year.
The number of those who were seriously injured rose from 3,610 last year to4,366 this year while those with slight injuries rose from 4,021 to 4,815.
to 4, 366 currently.
Likewise, those who have sustained slight injuries increased from 4, 021 in 2017 to 4, 815 this year representing an increase of 794 cases.
