This archive report was first published on 5 October 2019.
Published on October 5, 2019, a bus and lorry collision on the Kisumu-Kericho highway resulted in the deaths of over 10 people and injured nearly 40 others.
According to preliminary observations, driver error was a major cause of the accident, with factors such as speeding, recklessness, dangerous overtaking, incompetence, and fatigue contributing to the tragedy.
As National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) director-general Francis Meja noted, if drivers exercised more care, the number of road fatalities would decrease significantly.
Police Spokesman Charles Owino stated that the bus driver may have been blinded by the lights of an oncoming truck, and speeding could not be ruled out as a possible cause of the accident.
The NTSA boss emphasized that the main focus of the road safety campaign should be on changing the behavior and attitude of drivers, who are responsible for the poor judgment, speeding, and recklessness that have caused numerous fatalities on the roads.
With nearly 2,500 people killed on the roads since the beginning of the year, and the Christmas season approaching, the death toll could surpass the annual average of 3,000 fatalities.
While traffic police and NTSA officials will continue to mobilize resources to curb the carnage, it is essential to promote a road safety culture that involves all road users, including passengers and pedestrians.
