Abstract:
Road accidents on the Kenyan roads claim about 3,000 lives annually. It is
estimated that the economy further looses approximately Ksh. 14 billion or 5 % of
its gross domestic product too on accident related expenses (MoTC, 2004).
However, this intractable problem persists amidst efforts to introduce measures
including enforcement to use seatbelts and insertion of speed-governors.
In an effort to understand some of the underlying causes, this study examined
travellers’ perception of fatigue as a contributor to crashes. Both empirical and
exploratory research methodology was used to capture the opinions of the road
users and to get statistical information by carrying out a survey of 715 road- users
on Mombasa Road. The results showed the occurrence of fatigue to be a major
cause of 87 %, 83 % and 82 % of the nodding off, exhaustion and yawning
experienced respectively by passengers. Similar results were reported for drivers.
The effects of fatigue were attributed to poor road conditions by 76 % and long
periods of sitting by 64 % of the passengers interviewed. To counter fatigue
effects, 72 % and 79 % of the private car and truck drivers respectively stopped to
relax at petrol stations. The use of open countryside was cited by 53 % of the
passengers interviewed as an alternative place to stop. The results underscore the
need to devise effective measures that will relieve fatigue but at the same time be
environmentally sound. Indeed well planned rest-stops by location, proximity to
urban centres, at black spots and near scenic viewing points can provide avenues
to re-energize and provide an escape from driving under hazardous conditions and
also be used as a point to enjoy the special characters of region.
