Last week I heard of two deaths of people that I knew that were killed in road accidents.
It is sad that in Kenya if it is not the gun that gets you, it is our roads that kill you.
My brother died in a car accident and I remember at that time I wanted to create some sort of campaign to get the governments attention to help that it wouldn't happen anymore. No family should loose a member through a road disaster. But I didn't do anything and since then there have been plenty more deaths - most too young to die.
What is it about our Kenyan roads that allow for these tragedies to occur? Do we not have speeding rules? Can we blame it on corruption that the wrong cars are allowed on the roads - too much smoke from the exhaust, huge ass trailers, over speeding matatus?
Do you remember that song by Eric Wainaina - he was pleading with the matatu driver to slow down? I mean, we all want to earn the extra buck, but at what expense? That was a good initiative but it lost momentum.
Is it the roads that kill? Or could it be human error? I am not talking about the drivers that are at fault but the good Samaritans that rush to help. Do we lack expertise when an accident does occur? Everyone rushes to 'help' the injured and then moves them and perhaps creates further injury? (Note:I say help in quotes because all (some) people really do is first rob you of your belongings and then look for a car to take you to hospital.)
Perhaps the government need to launch a TV/radio campaign on how to treat the injured. A step by step guide on what to do so that when you do move the body you can further rapture/puncture or break what is misplaced and thus causing more damage.
Perhaps the government need to pay our traffic police force more so that they don't take bribes. Perhaps the government need to invest in our infrastructure, road wise, instead of taking shortcuts so that when you are doing a long haul safari it is safe to overtake without running the risk of going head on into an oncoming vehicle that is probably going faster than you are.
I am so stuck about what to do to help, but I really wish I could. I wish there was something we could do as families who have lost their loved ones to road accidents - if we could come together, we would be a loud voice to be listened to and perhaps we could change things.
It would take a lot of work, but I am ready to do it - may be the reason there are so many deaths on our roads is because we are all sitting back waiting for someone else to take action. May be it is up to us.
I lost a brother in a car accident - it could have been avoided. Frankly, I am kind of pissed off at how many more souls leave us because of the roads in Kenya - by roads I mean drivers, cars, traffic laws, etc.
My brother was a victim of a Kenyan Road Accident, let no more families suffer. What, pray tell, is the solution????
4 comments:
Pinky I totally agee with what you say, I remember my last visit to Kenya in which I was on a road trip to coast and saw nasty accidents on the way, It hurts to say but the people helping were making It worse, like pulling some out when they have there head stuck between a crushed seat. I suggest a group of people come together to have rallies in a few places trying to put sense into people who are driving and for those who help. I also think It would be nice as you said to telecast a program on major tv chanels on basic first aid and how to help in an accident. Let me know iF you would like any help from my end. Komal x
There are so many things that cause road accidents: drinking, hast, overcrowding, carelessness, poor roads. Like HIV ads, people should really voice the importance to road safety.Matatu and bus drivers need to be held accountable for their driving. Government should make road conducive and set up trained safety personnel who are alerted and dispatched to the scene. There's a lot to do. Perhaps the media and such can start inquiries that bring it out in the open. Then change will come
Pinky-OMG my mom told me about the car accident with Prit's friend..so sad and it just brought back memories of Raju's car accident. So terribly sad.
Hi Pinky, I have been meaning to post an idea that can sort of highlight the absolutely unnecessary death on Kenya roads. I live in the US, and anytime a fatal accident happens. Family members create a memorial at the site. It's usually a cross, flowers, pics of the loved one etc. Now as you drive by you get a visual reminder of what happened there and what date. If the site has more than one accident, tend to slow people down sub-consciously. It has a huge impact. I think these efforts help the campaign of safe driving, do not drink and drive, do not text and drive. In addition, a blog/website reports on the safety of Kenyan roads, accident's frequencies by location, vehicle type and the reported cause of accidents. A website focus on the issue driving in Kenya, engaging the community to add feedback on the culprits,improvement required, etc. This can action item folks can engage their local politician with.
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