THE INFLUENCE OF ROAD REGULATIONS ON ROAD SAFETY PROJECTS PERFORMANCE IN KENYA

Abstract

There are diverse regulations that have been enacted in relations to road usage with a view of improving on the road safety performance. These regulations include alcohol consumption as well as speed limits regulations in order to enhance road safety. Other measures taken around the world include imposition of speed limits, prohibition of use of mobile phones while driving, prescribed alcohol limits, and authorized the use of speed governance. In Kenya, amongst the road regulations included Compulsory fitting of speed governors in all PSV and commercial motor vehicles whose tare weight exceed 3,048 kg in order to limit speed to 80 Kph; Fitting of safety belts and use of the same on all motor vehicles (public, commercial and private); Employment of drivers and conductors on permanent basis and they must be security vetted and Compulsory wearing of uniforms and badges by all PSV drivers and conductors. This study sought to find the role of road regulations on performance of road safety projects in Kenya. On average, the study sought to examine which road regulations aspects have played a significant role in road safety projects among compulsory wearing of uniforms and badges, compulsory retesting of all PSV drivers after every 2 years, fitting of safety belts in the motor vehicles, drivers’ having driving license, and maintenance of the recommended speed levels. There was no consensus among the respondents on whether the road regulation aspect of compulsory retesting of all PSV drivers after every 2 years played a significant role in road safety projects as it has a standard deviation of 1.005 (σx ≥1). The responses on compulsory wearing of uniforms and badges, fitting of safety belts in the motor vehicles, drivers’ having driving license, and maintenance of the recommended speed levels were moderately distributed around the mean with a standard deviation implying that there was moderate consensus (0.5<σx <1) that they played a significant role in road safety projects. The study recommended that the government of Kenya should place emphasis on the fitting of safety belts in the motor vehicles and the divers having driving licenses as the aspects with the highest levels of consensus amongst the respondents.