By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with JULIUS OTIENO
Published on 2024-01-19 18:00:00
The Commission on Administrative Justice has issued an advisory to various road safety agencies in an effort to address the increasing cases of accidents on Kenyan roads. The advisory, issued to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), traffic police, and the Kenya National Highways Authority (Kenha), aims to tackle the root causes of the rising accident numbers.
In the advisory to NTSA, the commission urged the agency to conduct research and audit the road safety measures in areas identified as accident hotspots. Additionally, the commission called for the implementation of impactful safety strategies, including the erection of reflective signage with clear and exhaustive safety measures. NTSA was also tasked with intensifying road safety awareness programs and implementing long-term and sustainable safety measures.
For the Police Traffic Department, the commission recommended conducting in-depth investigations into the causes of the increasing accidents, including vehicle road worthiness and road user indiscipline. The advisory also called for the intensification of enforcement functions to prevent accidents in accordance with the Traffic Act Cap 409.
In the case of Kenha, the commission urged the agency to undertake road safety audits and implement impactful interventions, such as erecting signage, mounting retro-reflective supplements, and widening paved shoulders.
Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen addressed the issue of accidents being caused by private motorists, attributing cyclists’ deaths to speeding vehicles, dangerous clinging, unsafe changing of lanes, use of mobile phones, and failure to wear reflector jackets. The CS also announced plans to retrain and retest drivers and revamp the driving curriculum. Additionally, he stated that the testing of drivers’ health standards would be rolled out to ensure they are of sound mind, and the digitization of vehicle inspections would be implemented for easier tracking of the inspection exercises.
The advisory from the Commission on Administrative Justice emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts from various agencies to address the increasing cases of accidents on Kenyan roads. Through research, audits, impactful interventions, and enhanced enforcement, the commission aims to curb the rising trend of road accidents and improve overall road safety in the country.
Read the original article on The Star
