Police commanders kick off road safety drive to curb crashes

Police commanders at the Coast have kicked off a campaign to tame runaway accidents on the Mombasa-Malindi highway.

The campaign involves road safety education, including engaging the public in random stopovers between Mtwapa and Malindi towns.

Coast Deputy Regional Police Commander Wilkister Vera, pointed out concern over an alarming surge in cases of accidents along the highway where about six serious crashes are recorded weekly in almost all the stations between Mtwapa and Malindi, prompted the need to intensify road safety sensitisation with the view of cutting down the cases.

“All the stations between Malindi and Mtwapa hardly go for a week without recording a minimum of between four and six serious accidents. We are concerned that this is a very high number that has left many of our citizens with permanent injuries, permanent disabilities or even fatalities,” the commander explained.

In the campaign, Vera noted that they decided to deploy a more interactive approach to improve police-community relations and reach a better scope of the targeted public.

“We are asking our officers not to be too harsh on the public and we are also telling the public not to disrespect the officers so that there is a mutual understanding in this whole campaign,” she explained.

And in a rare gesture, the officers led the public in a brief prayer before kicking off the campaign in Mtwapa town yesterday.

While urging motorists to be extra-vigilant, the officers further stressed the importance of upholding general traffic discipline including getting enough sleep and avoiding being under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

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