85pc of accident victims are male, shows NTSA survey

Males are more likely to die in road accidents than females, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has revealed.

According a recent survey by NTSA, 85.5 per cent of road fatalities are male while females account for 16.7 per cent. 

By October 14, 2,263 men had lost their lives on the roads since the beginning of the year while 427 females had died in the same period.

The 2019 census results show females outnumber males by half a million. 

According to NTSA, one is also more likely to die on the roads on a Sunday with figures from January to October 7 indicating a total of 497 people fatalities occurred on a Sunday.

The authority also revealed that one is likely to die in Nairobi, which registered 337 deaths from January to October 7. Kiambu came second with 233 deaths, Nakuru (181), Machakos (168) and Muranga at 105.

NTSA data shows that one is safest in Migori, which registered only 32 deaths, followed by Baringo (33).

On the age factor, persons aged 30 to 34 years are the most vulnerable on the roads, contributing to 298 deaths from January to October 7.

The safest on the road were those aged 70 and above, with only 94 deaths in the period.

The survey revealed that human error was the biggest contributor to road crashes at 98.07 per cent  while mechanical problems contributed to a paltry 1.93 per cent of accidents.

Hit-and-run tops the leading causes with 925 deaths, losing control (451), failing to keep to near side (235), overtaking improperly (225), misjudging clearance (140) and error of judgment (129).

Speeding contributed to 120 deaths, while driving under the influence of alcohol or a drug claimed 19 lives.