EDITORIAL: Ban reckless drivers for a year, fine them

The National Transport and Safety Authority this week announced steps intended to stem the tragedy of avoidable deaths on our roads.

It is both sobering and shocking that between January 1 and November 13, 2025, road accidents killed 4,195 people from 21,042 accidents.

The Covid-19 pandemic caused the deaths of less than 6,000 people in three years.

It is worth noting that the Christmas season recklessness, fuelled by alcohol and the rush to cash in on holiday travel, has not been factored into those numbers.

Acting NTSA director general Angela Wanjira has her work cut out. She must pull all the stops to save lives and tame reckless driving because roads cause no accidents; reckless driving does.

The NTSA has proposed that reckless drivers be tested afresh. What our rash and pig-headed drivers need is a ban for a year, coupled with a deterrent fine.

The PSV drivers and the boda boda operators will consider that a soft penalty in the knowledge that the financial returns far outweigh the pain.

The penalty must cause financial pain for it to have the desired effect.

Retraining unruly drivers will not work. They speed and drink and drive, yet they know the dangers.

Quote of the day: “The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity.” —Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy died on November 20, 1910