A scene at famous Salgaa Blackspot along Nakuru- Eldoret Highway. [Photo- the-star.co.ke]
Days after the grisly road accident that claimed 12 lives at Shalom area along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway, stakeholders are calling on the government to reduce the carnage.
This, they say, will help reduce the loss of more lives along the transport corridor that has become a notorious death trap.
The chairman of the Road Safety Association of Kenya Edward Gitonga and his Road safety of Kenya Counterpart David Kiarie want the Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA) to put up rumps along the highway to slow down speeding motorists while making arrangements for the expansion of the highway to a dual carriage facility.
“The lack of bumps along the highway has inspired drivers to drive beyond legally recommended speed limits at night when police surveillance is at its lowest saying this has led to increased accidents in recent times.” Said Gitonga.
The road safety professionals also called on police in the area to rein in on reckless herders crossing their cattle along the highway and sneaking them to the expansive Gicheha farm in search of pasture.
A considerable number of road accidents on the road have been caused by cows crossing just like the last Sunday`s incident that saw a passenger vehicle knock a crossing cow, ramming an oncoming truck and leaving all the 12 people on board dead.” Gitonga added.
Road safety professionals say over the last 21 years, 989 people have lost their lives in fatal accidents along the highway, 460 others over the last decade and another 23 people reported dead this year and nearly all of the incidents have occurred at night.