NTSA: More Kenyans have died in road accidents in 2021 compared to last year
The Neo Kenya Mpya bus which rolled on December 14, 2021 in Murang'a while carrying students of Gititu Secondary School. The driver died on the spot while several students were injured.
More Kenyans are dying in road accidents this year as compared to 2020 when the country was under curfew due to Covid-19.
Statistics from the National Transport and Safety Authority indicate.
A closer look at the traffic data as of November 30, 2021, reveals that fatalities have increased compared to the same time in 2020.
General statistics documented by the police and the NTSA show that road fatalities between January and December this year increased by 18.5 per cent.
Between January and November 30, 2021, 4,121 people had been killed in various accidents as of November 30 as compared to 3,478 who died in the same period in 2020 translating to 758 fatalities.
Pedestrians have been the most affected road users with 1,413 losing their lives during the same period compared to 1,231 recorded last year.
A 39.8 per cent increase was witnessed on the side of passengers with NTSA statistics recording 671 deaths so far compared to last year’s 480.
Increase in deaths
There was also an increase in deaths among drivers. At least 410 drivers have so far perished on the road compared to 298 who died last year. This translates to a 37.6 per cent increase.
However, the NTSA report also shows that 1,141 motorcyclists were in the past 11 months killed compared to 996 in 2020, a 14.6 per cent increment.
Pillion passengers also recorded a 4.1 per cent increment of fatalities compared to 2020, reporting 406 deaths against 390 from the previous year.
On the other hand, 80 pedal cyclists perished on the road between January and November down from 83 from the same period last year.
“Further analysis indicates that the majority of the crashes are preventable as they result from speeding, lane indiscipline, overloading, dangerous overtaking, crossing the road at undesignated areas among others,” a statement from the authority states.
NTSA said the deaths were caused by reckless driving, dangerous overtaking, drunk driving, drunk walking, drunk riding, and failure to use helmets among other issues.
Dangerous overtaking
“They result from speeding, lane indiscipline, overloading, dangerous overtaking and crossing the road at undesignated areas,” NTSA’s George Njao said.
He said the accidents may increase in the coming days and urged for caution from all concerned.
Motorists were also advised to avoid night travels due to poor visibility.
Fewer deaths of passengers and pedestrians were recorded compared to 2020, according to the latest data from NTSA.
According to the World Health Organisation, Global Status Report on Road Safety, between 3,000 and 13,000 Kenyans lose their lives in road traffic crashes every year. The majority of these people are vulnerable road users – pedestrians, motorcyclists, and cyclists. In addition, nearly one-third of deaths are among passengers – many of whom are killed in unsafe forms of public transportation.
