December traffic deaths up this year

Deputy Traffic Police Commandant, Samwel C. Kimaru addressing journalists in his office December 31, 2010. He said the number of fatal accidents on December 2010 was 307, which has surpassed the 217 number of fatalities reported in the same month 2009. Photo/SAMMY KIMATU 

Posted Friday, December 31 2010 at 16:15

The number of deaths caused by road accidents in December this year has surpassed that of last year.

Out of the accidents, 85 per cent were caused by Passengers Serving Vehicles (PSVs) driven at night.

Speaking during a press briefing at Nairobi’s Ruaraka Traffic Headquarters, Deputy Commandant, Samuel C. Kimaru said this was attributed to speeding vehicles and drunk drivers.
Mr Kimaru said 307 people died on December this year while 400 victims were affected compared to 217 reported deaths and 255 victims in December 2009.

The data showed 384 people sustained serious injuries while 1,056 victims were reported in the same month.

Mr Kimaru added that 139 people got slight injuries while 711 were victims.

Those who were not injured were 2,878.

He said another factor attributing to the rise of the accidents was mass movement of members of the public during the festive month and increase of vehicle on roads.

“It is alarming and quite astonishing to say that pedestrians were badly affected,” Kimaru remarked.

Out of those who died in last year, 738 were passengers 306 drivers and 240 pedal cyclists.

Another 200 died while riding on motorbikes as 124 succumbed death while being passengers on motorbikes.

“Mostly ladies reportedly resisted to wear helmets compared to men saying their hair will be tampered,” Kimaru remarked.

Kimaru said accidents caused in 2009 were few due to famine and drought in the country.

Kimaru launched police hotline numbers: 020-2603814 and 020-8074602 and appealed to members of the public to volunteer information as part of community policing.

By afternoon Friday, Mr Kimaru confirmed that a total 1,824 traffic offenders had been arrested among them 190 motorists and arraigned in court.

He said that the police will launch a crackdown on unroadworthy vehicles dubbed “Enhanced Traffic Enforcement Operation” immediately after schools re-open adding that the police will not relent its efforts to curb crime.

On corruption, he said 10 officers have been sacked while several were demoted.