Road carnage continues killing more people every year and costing many African countries over 3% of their GDP. Sometimes it seems like this problem will never go away, that we are doomed to die like flies.
Kenya has 29 road deaths for every 100,000 people, compared to the United Kingdom at just 3 road deaths per 100,000 people. Mind you, there are 4.6 million vehicles on the road in Kenya, compared to 42 million in the UK.
So who should be held to account for all these deaths in Kenya and by extension Africa? Speeding, drunk, tired or distracted drivers? Poorly maintained roads & vehicles? Vehicle owners & fleet operators taking shortcuts? Corrupt traffic police & govt officials? Poorly trained road users & sham driving schools? Climate, weather or geography?
Now let’s add some sparks to the gunpowder keg. Human population is increasing. Vehicle population is increasing. Faster, silent & more powerful electric vehicles are increasing. More distractions in modern digital connected vehicles are increasing. Are road fatalities going to reduce or increase?
Let’s flip the script. Assuming our road safety standards were world class and admired all over the globe. Assuming the UN was to give an award to the person or official most responsible for this remarkable feat. Who in Kenya would be on the shortlist to receive the award on behalf of the country? The President? Minister of Transport? NTSA Director General? KENHA Director General? NPS Traffic Commandant?
The fact is that in any society or organization, the person who would get the most credit when things go very well, should be exactly the same person to get the most blame when things don’t go well. The buck stops at the top, period.
As road safety champion Geoffrey Oyowo says everyday hashtag#RoadSafetyUnderAttack
Advanced Mobility Africa
ROAD CARNAGE
