The grim milestone of relentless carnage on our roads should shake the nation out of slumber. Its testimony the madness on our roads does not seem to have a cure anytime soon.
Many lives have been cut short in circumstances that were entirely preventable.
The National Transport and Safety Authority together
with the police, county governments and road agencies, must move beyond
reactive enforcement and launch an aggressive, sustained campaign to reverse
the trend. Hoping that motorists and boda boda riders will one day see sense is
not a plan.
Certain stretches of road have become synonymous with tragedy. Sections such as Salgaa, Sachangwan, Kinungi, Ngata bridge, Kikopey and Nithi bridge continue to claim lives despite repeated warnings and years of promises to address these notorious black spots.
These areas require engineering interventions, better signage, rumble strips, improved lighting, guardrails and a visible law enforcement presence around the clock.
Equally urgent is the need to tackle speeding and reckless overtaking - the leading causes of fatal crashes. Speed cameras should be deployed on major highways, traffic patrols strengthened and drivers who repeatedly flout traffic laws banned for at least three years.
Public service vehicles and heavy commercial trucks must go through stricter inspections to ensure they are roadworthy.
Pedestrians remain the most vulnerable road users. More investment is needed in footbridges, zebra crossings, street lighting and public education to discourage dangerous road crossings, particularly among intoxicated pedestrians.
At the same time, boda boda riders who weave through traffic and overtake from motorists' blind sides, often striking unsuspecting pedestrians, must face firm enforcement. The culture of impunity on our roads cannot continue.
Road safety is not a national obligation. Every preventable death is one too many. Kenya has the laws, institutions and technical expertise to cut fatalities. What has been lacking is consistent enforcement and the political will to act decisively. The time for excuses is not now. The NTSA and all the agencies responsible for protecting road users must act now.
