Security, traffic and emergency relief officials led pedestrians and students in a trek on the Thika Superhighway a few days ago to draw attention to and create awareness on preserving life on the treacherous highway.
The Zero Death/Linda Maisha road safety campaign involved mock evacuations of accident scenes, and instructions on walking the highway, where everyone involved in the walk was a part of.
The exercise spanned the 50 kilometre road for a better part of the morning, under the guidance of the Red Cross Thika Branch, Kenya Police Traffic Department, Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK), and Kenya Defense Forces.
Taking part in the venture were students from Mt Kenya University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, and the Nairobi Institute for Business Studies among other institutions.
The Road Show was flagged off at the Muthaiga Police Station by Deputy Traffic Commandant Samuel Kimaru, who was flanked by MAK chairman Peter Murima and the Red Cross Thika Branch Chairman.
Red Cross paramedics were in charge of the accident scene drills and with the involvement of KDF and Red Cross Ambulances as they reenacted scenes, even the onlookers were fooled.
The training sessions took place at Allsops, Roysambu, Githurai, Ruiru and Juja; where the Traffic Commandant led by example and cautioned pedestrians against jumping over guardrails.
‘‘No pedestrian is supposed to cross the main carriageway by avoiding the footbridges,’’ he advised.
MAK and Red Cross representatives issued fliers with Road safety messages to participants and onlookers along the way.
The campaign was borne of a need to curb the frequent road accidents that had been characteristic of the highway in the first quarter of 2012.
A recent drop in the number of crashes since then has been attributed to a raft of measures by the Traffic Police Department, Ministry of Roads and MAK.
