NTSA Blames Subaru Drivers for High Number of Road Accidents in Kenya

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has linked the high number of accidents on Kenyan roads to drivers of Subaru cars.

NTSA director-general George Njao said the agency has noted that most of the road crashes reported in the country involved Subaru drivers, who are infamous for their love for speed.

Speaking during the launch of the National Safe Roads Programme in Upper Hill, Nairobi on Wednesday, Njao indicated that the Subaru drivers causing accidents are mainly fresh graduates with their first cars.

“What is the first thing a student does with his first salary; they buy a car. If you look at the number of fatalities, it’s in the youth category and new cars, the Subarus. These fast cars our young people are driving are creating a problem for us,” said Njao, adding that NTSA is looking to work with colleges and universities to sensitize young people on road safety.

“We have got the youth community. We would like to work with the TVET and the universities,” he added.

A recent report by NTSA shows that 2,689 persons were killed in road accidents between January 1st and September 30th, 2020, compared to 2,655 in the same period last year, an increase of 1.3 percent, with the majority being the youth.

Motorcyclist and pillion passenger deaths surged by 44.94 percent and 19.44 percent respectively during the period.

The accidents are attributed to speeding, drunk-driving, fatigue, wrong use of roads by pedestrians, poor road infrastructure, and flouting of traffic laws.