An analysis of the causes of road traffic accidents in the city of nairobi, kenya

Abstract

This study analysed road traffic accidents in the City Council of Nairobi, with particular reference to the main causes of such accidents and the relationship of driver behaviour to the problem. The research further discussed vulnerability of non-motorized transport users. It aimed at providing recommendations that could be implemented to reduce occurrence and severity of the accidents. The research used both descriptive statistics and linear correlation for analysis. A sample, N, of 30 months (January 2006 to June 2008), with a cumulative frequency of 7811 road traffic accidents was used for analysis. The data set, which was of secondary nature, was availed by the City Council of Nairobi. The study determined that the main causes of road traffic accidents were human error factors. The top five causes of driver-related accidents were speeding, overtaking carelessly, cutting in, misjudging clearance, and pulling from near side. The results of the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and Spearman Correlation Coefficient illustrated that there is a strong positive correlation between driver behaviour and road traffic accidents. For sample N = 30, the computed value of r = 0.855, while the Spearman correlation, p = 0.804, thus indicating that the reliability of the sample was high. Further, fatalities of non-motorized transport users (pedestrian and pedal cyclists) were 76.29% of all fatalities, thus their vulnerability. Recommendations made included increased investments for non-motorized transport facilities, traffic control measures, motivation of traffic police officers, use of modern technology in data collection, amendment of the Traffic Act and driver training.