Exploration of Factors that Influence Incidence of Road Accidents in Kenya: A Survey of Black Spots along the Mombasa-Malaba Road

Abstract

High morbidity, disability, mortality, economic cost and burden arising out of road traffic accidents (RTAs) are a major public concern globally and more specifically to a growing economy like Kenya. The disproportionate 80% of all RTAs with unusually high fatality of 24.1% in developing countries points to a systematic failure in the management of road construction standards and safety performance and measures in Road Transport Systems (RTS). Annually Kenya experiences one of the highest fatality rates in the world at 34.4% that costs the economy 11% of GDP. Additionally, there are over 80 accident prone sections (black spots) on a 788 kilometres highway. This situation raises concern and calls for intervention to minimise the incidence of such accidents. The influence of road geometrical variables on road accidents at these black spots remains unclear at present. The existing road safety information is not based on scientific findings and is therefore subjective and unreliable. The aim of this study was to unravel the causes of road accidents and influence of road design and standards on incidence of road accidents and road safety with the for the purpose of finding a lasting solution to road carnage in Kenya. Descriptive statistics were employed to describe factors that cause occurrence of incidence of RTAs in Kenya Road networks with focus to black spots along Mombasa–Malaba road. The questionnaire as a data collection instrument was employed to give relevant information from respondents because of ease of administration, time saving, upholding of confidentiality between the respondents and the researcher as well as being the best source of primary data. The data collected was checked for errors or omissions, exaggerations and biases, responses and cleared before subjection to appropriate statistical tools of analysis. Data was coded into Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and used to analyse descriptive statistics. Descriptive statistics involved use of absolute and relative (percentages) frequencies, measures of central tendency and dispersion (mean and standard deviation respectively). The study found that incidence of fatal road traffic accidents frequently occur in the black spots in Kenya. It was also established that the nature of the incidence of accidents that occur within the black spots, affected the various people such as local community, police and other road users. The study established that road surface conditions greatly influence incidence of road accidents in black spots. In addition, the study established that, to a moderate extent, road conditions, vision, speeding, bad brakes or tyres, and trees along the roads correlated with the factors that influence incidence of traffic road accidents. Primarily, the study concluded that drivers’ driving behaviours, personal characteristics and the road surface conditions influence incidence of road traffic accidents in black spots along Mombasa-Malaba road. The study recommended that, stakeholders in the transport and communication sector should establish a well-coordinated and funded road safety research and development programme(s) in Kenya to provide the information needed for necessary decision-making process in road safety measures.This will assist in coming up with essential stop-gap measures and road improvement/rehabilitation to eliminate or reduce incidence of road traffic accidents along black spots in Kenya. The PSV drivers and conductors should be trained on safety rules especially those being introduced to improve on the awareness and use of the related tools and equipment hence improve their knowledge on road safety. The government should implement rules that will govern the conduct of the drivers especially on drunk driving and speeding which have been found to be the main contributors of most of the accidents in Kenya