Impact of motor vehicle inspection on road fatality rate in Kenya

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to examine the impact of motor vehicles inspection in reduction of road fatality in Kenya. In order to realize this objective, time series properties of the data including unit roots, cointegration and Granger causality test was implemented. In the end, a regression equation was estimated and revealed a positive relationship between populations, number of driving licenses issued, proportion of the number of inspected motor vehicles and per capita income.

The study concludes that there is no causality between fatality rate and the proportion of the number of inspected motor vehicles. This implies that fata!ity on the Kenya roads are caused by other factors other than motor vehicle inspection. Further, there is no causal link between fatality rate and average speed. Therefore, to improve on road safety and reduce fatality rates on the Kenyan roads, other factors other than the average speed and motor vehicle inspection are important.

These include, slack enforcement of traffic rules by the traffic.department, corruption in the road that has immensely contributed to lack of respect for traffic rules, non deterrent penalties/fines that do not serve the purpose, drunken driving, loopholes and the general delay in adjudication of traffic offences in law courts due to poor co-ordination between traffic enforcement function and the adjudication function.