Influence of implementation of the revised traffic rules on road accidents in the transport sector in Nairobi County, kenya

Abstract

Road traffic accidents have continued to be one of the greatest challenges not only in Kenya but globally. The World Health Organization accident statistics indicate that globally, an estimated 1.2 million people are killed annually through road traffic accidents and millions more are injured or disabled. Besides creating enormous social and economic losses to individuals, families and communities, road traffic accidents place a heavy burden on health services and economic development. Kenya loses an average of 3000 lives through traffic accidents annually and more than ten times this number end up partially or totally disabled. Some of the accidents recorded in Kenya over the past years are very grisly, with some claiming entire families. While efforts are being made at global level to address road traffic accidents, Kenya though trying is yet to come up with elaborate measures that can help address this menace effective and safeguard lives of people who use public service vehicles. One of the landmark interventions at the global level aimed at addressing road safety challenges was the declaration of the years 2011-2020 as a Decade of Action on Road Safety by the United Nations in March 2010 though the UN General Assembly Resolution 64/255. In 2004 the revised traffic rules were introduced in the effort of restoring order in Public transport. Kenya’s road safety status remains one of the worst not only in Africa, but globally. This is in spite of the fact that Kenya has a very low level of motorization compared to that of developed economies. The purpose of the study was to establish influence of implementation of the revised traffic rules on road accidents in transport sector in Nairobi County by assessing how use of seat belts, speed governors, overloading and use of defined routes by PSVs influences road accidents in Nairobi County, Kenya. The design used is mixed model as it integrates quantitative and qualitative data through a transformative process. The study had a target population of 1,856618 and a sample size of 443 Quota sampling technique was used to collect data from the respondents and questionnaires were used as research instruments. Primary data collection method was used whereby the questionnaires were administered to the respondents by hand delivery and after the specified time collected them and analysed the data. The collected data was sorted mathematically and organized for easy analysis. The data was then processed, coded, analysed and the results presented in form of tables whereby 79.5% disagreed that use of functional seat belts helped in reduction of traffic road accidents, 72.3% disagreed that all PSVs are fitted with functional speed governors, 83.2% disagreed that all PSVs carry specified number of passengers and 49% disagreed that all PSVs follow their defined routes. The findings of the study shows that use functional seat belts, quality speed governors, stoppage of overloading and use defined routes had a possibility of providing a long lasting solution to the road carnage but the issue was politicized and lacked enough stakeholders support hence not fully implemented. The study confirms that the implementation of the revised traffic rules could help reduce road accidents and recommends that the government of Kenya should show commitment and determination in addressing increased deaths on the Kenyan roads by fully implementing the revised traffic rules, that all stakeholders should be involved in making decisions relating to the industry as well as ensuring regular vehicle inspection. The study due to time and financial constraints could not exhaust all factors causing traffic roads accidents not only in Nairobi County but other parts of the country thus providing suggestions for further research.