Timothy Albrite
AA Kenya joined the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) in unveiling the National Road Safety Action Plan 2024-2028. The plan, launched at KICC in Nairobi by His Excellency President William Ruto, aims to enhance Road Safety and eliminate fatal and serious injuries on the road.
In line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the second UN action decade for road safety 2021-2030, the plan aims to reduce fatalities by 50% by 2030. The vision is to have Safe roads for all users.
The Current Road Safety Situation
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 1.35 million people lose their lives annually due to road traffic crashes worldwide.
Kenya, like many low and middle-income countries, faces significant challenges in road safety, amplified by rapid urbanization and population growth. The reported fatalities have remained stubbornly high, with vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and motorcyclists being the most affected.
NTSA unveils new ambitious plans to reduce road crashes in Kenya
Speaking during the launch, President Ruto expressed his eagerness to see the results of the action plan after a year. He emphasized that he would like to see a decrease in the number of fatalities and encouraged everyone to work together towards achieving this goal.
Key Focus Areas:
The action plan outlines a strategic roadmap encompassing eight critical areas:
- Coordination of Delivery Partnerships: Strengthening collaboration among stakeholders to track performance and implement targeted safety interventions effectively.
- Funding: Allocating resources to support specific safety initiatives and meet financial obligations outlined in the National Transport and Safety Authority Act 2012.
- Risk Targeting: Identifying high-risk corridors and urban areas to prioritize interventions, with a keen focus on safeguarding vulnerable road users. Read: Inside NTSA’s plan to tackle speeding and save lives on Kenyan roads
- Infrastructure Safety: Enhancing road design and deploying safety measures in high-risk zones to protect all road users. Read: KeNHA, NTSA seek to enhance convenience for Kenyan motorists through Roadside stations
- Vehicle Safety Standards and Compliance: Aligning vehicle standards with global benchmarks and regulating imports to ensure compliance with safety requirements.
- Enforcement Targeting Unsafe Behavior: Intensifying enforcement of road traffic laws and promoting safe driving practices through targeted campaigns.
- Post-Crash Services: Improving emergency response services and rehabilitation for crash victims to minimize response times and enhance outcomes.
- Road Safety Database, Monitoring, and Evaluation Systems: Enhancing data collection and analysis to measure progress accurately and inform evidence-based interventions.
In tandem with the government’s Authority’s (NTSA) efforts to mitigate road traffic accidents, AA Kenya plays a vital role in promoting road safety across the country. AA recognizes that education and awareness are key to reducing fatalities and injuries on the roads, and it begins with a comprehensive and thorough driver training at the driving school.
Additionally, AA Kenya’s involvement in the Kenya Music Festivals this year underscores its commitment to Road Safety by leveraging the power of music and poetry to raise Road Safety awareness. AA Kenya’s Junior Membership program aims to raise road safety ambassadors from a young age, while the Best Young Driver contest recognizes and rewards responsible driving habits among youth drivers influencing them to embrace safe driving habits.
Good work