The Eastern Region has recorded a slight reduction in road crash fatalities from 622 last year to 570 this year.
The number of those who survived with serious injuries also went down from 635 last year to 526 in the current year according to National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).
Regional NTSA Manager Doris Sabaya however said there was still a lot to do to end road carnage as “one life lost on the road is one too many.”
This, according to Sabaya, called for concerted efforts from all stakeholders towards the agenda for reduction in traffic crashes.
Speaking during this year’s commemoration of World Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims at the Regional Police Headquarters in Embu Town, the manager said they were in the process of putting up traffic calming strategies including road signage and formation of County Transport Safety Committees (CTSC) to reduce deaths on the roads.
She said these strategies and partnerships from various stakeholders will greatly contribute in lessening carnage on Kenyan roads.
She lauded the Council of Governors (CoG) for supporting the fight by forwarding names of CTSCs to NTSA for gazettement.
Embu County Executive for Roads Elija Njeru said the committees will be charged with the responsibility of leading in the management of road safety at the county level.
He added that the county was also in the process of formulating a bill to assist in the management of county vehicles as well as public transport vehicles.
Embu West Sub-County Assistant County Commissioner Charles Opiyo regretted that the majority of accidents could be prevented if all road users remain vigilant and obey traffic rules.
He said only a small percent of road accidents are attributable to mechanical or environmental factors and called on road users to exercise caution to end unnecessary loss of lives.
By Samuel Waititu
