THE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF KENYA
NAME: MOSES GITOBU KINYUA

REG NO.: 111/00104

COURSE: Bachelor of Engineering Geospatial Engineering

DEPARTMENT: SURVEYING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

UNIT: HIGHWAY & TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING

ASSIGNMENT: How to reduce the number of road accidents in Kenya.

LECTURER: Mr. Ogutu

Submission date April 14, 2014.

Introduction
A road accident, also known as a traffic accident, motor vehicle collision, motor vehicle accident, car accident, automobile accident, road traffic collision, car crash, or car smash occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction, such as a tree or utility pole for instance electricity poles or fence poles. Traffic collisions may result in injury, death, vehicle damage and property damage. They have led to loss of thousands of life and others being paralyzed for the rest of their lives while others are left with permanent scars which remind them of the occurrence. It is regarded as one of the main cause of death after diseases.
Here I am going to concentrate on how to reduce road accidents in Kenya through the various engineering disciplines in the country. These disciplines include geospatial engineering, civil and building engineering, mechanical engineering (automotive engineering) and electrical engineering. A. Improvement of road design to reduce accidents on black spots
This area has the geospatial and civil engineers who mainly deal with design and construction of roads in the country.
Here fall many black spots, mainly because some roads were poorly designed and inspection wasn’t done in the right way. Accidents occur mainly where there are curves both vertical and horizontal curves, where roads intersect and where roads are in a poor condition. They have one this through a) Having a clear line of sight in areas with curves. This will ensure visibility at all times. Invisibility on curves leads to many accidents as one is not able to see the other side of the curve and as centripetal force pulls the vehicle to the inside part of the curve vehicles en up hitting each other as one will just see the other vehicle abruptly and most of the time the rivers end up being shocked thus fatal accidents. b) Trying to reduce the gradient of the vertical curves in the trough or sags as many vehicles accelerates here as they descend so as they can gain the momentum an speed of ascending the other side. As they accelerate downwards they meet oncoming vehicles on the other lane which is also at high speed and end up colliding as they try to veer away from each other hence losing control and end up with head on collision. c) Improving the status of roads in the country. Many roads are in poor conditions and as a result cause many accidents. For instance a pothole in the middle of the road at a bridge or intersections. Improving of road conditions will ensure smooth flow of traffic instead of vehicles trying to twirl around while they are trying stay away from the pothole. Also having roads with good surface that will increase friction unlike having smooth roads that make vehicles skid during wet conditions. d) Increasing the road width in some black spot areas. Some areas have a small road width thus making vehicles to scramble for the small space they have as no one will move out of the tarmac to gravel or rough terrain. Having wide roads will ensure enough space for everyone and thus smooth flow and fewer accidents. e) Currently roads are designed to the standard of each type of road user with their own road space i.e. pedestrians and cyclist have their own lane separate from the ones of vehicles. f) Also erecting of foot bridges near towns and highly populated areas. To avoid pedestrian-vehicle accidents. g) There is also a new design that contractors in the country are adopting this is the creation of overpasses and under passes instead of having intersections along major roads. Apart from creating traffic snarl ups, intersections are prone to accidents especially if not well coordinated.

B. Improvement of vehicle conditions
Many accidents occur as a result of poor maintenance of the vehicles and use of un-road worthy public service vehicles. Accidents have occurred after un-road worthy vehicles failed.
Here the mechanical and electrical engineers play a big role in helping to reduce the number of road accidents on our roads. They have done a lot among these are: a) Ensuring the brakes of the vehicle are working properly and regularly checking them to ensure they are in good condition. Many vehicles that are involved in accidents usually are caused by brake failure. b) Ensuring the vehicle head lights are functioning. This should be done by those drivers who drive at night to help them and also the other drivers. Poorly lit head lamps also a cause of road carnage. c) Fitting vehicles with speed governors that cannot be tampered with. From legal notice number 161 vehicle are to be fitted with speed governors to all public service vehicles and commercial vehicles whose weight exceed 3048kg. In the past drivers were able to tamper with governors and exceed the speed limit of 80kph. Currently the are new speed governors which cannot be tampered with and also have records of up to 30 days(1 month) on the speed of the vehicle. This will help to curb the accidents as the speed limit of 80kph is one that any driver can control even in cases of emergency. Having functioning cameras to capture photos of over speeding vehicles. d) Some new development in the transport sector has also come up. This is installation of CCTVs in public service vehicle. This helps in monitoring the vehicle speed and also how condition is done and also the status of the driver (whether drunk or not drunk). e) Enabling traffic light systems and ensuring that they are working properly. This will help in road intersections.

C. Improving the road warning systems
These road warning include the black spots, curves and meanders, school and animal crossings among others. Having these warning at the correct places will reduce the accidents on such areas. This is useful to the new drivers who seem to don’t know the road well and also to notify the drivers anything can happen or appear at those places with the signs. These signs help a lot in populated areas as they reduce the pedestrian-vehicle accidents, vehicle-animals accidents and vehicle-vehicle accidents.

Conclusion
It is therefore evident that engineers play an important role in trying to reduce the number of road accidents witnessed in the country. This is because most of these accidents can be prevented as seen from above points through proper design of roads and also the vehicle itself.

REFERNECES
Institute of policy analysis and research www.ipar.or.ke
Road safety journals (road safety network of Kenya ROSNEK)
Decsription: own composition