Usalama Watch Initiative; a non-profit, NGO registered under section 10 of the Kenya NGO coordination Act. The main objective of the organization is to promote road safety and save lives on Kenyan roads.

Each school term we receive reports of children involved road traffic crashes that result in injuries and fatality. Upon our intervention in schools road crashes and incidences involving children cease. Our school safety program is based on the commitment that no child should ever have to negotiate dangerous traffic on his or her way to or from school.

Too many of our children are being killed or maimed as they travel to and from school because our roads are too dangerous. It is in this respect that Usalama Watch Initiative is proposing a road safety partnership with your organization. Usalama Watch Initiative in collaboration with the task force members consisting of five organizations inclusive of Usalama are spearheading the amendment of the Traffic Act, Cap 403 to include safety measures for school children. 

The bill focuses on the following 4 areas:-

1.      Installation of speed calming measures around school

2.      Regulation and standardization of school transportation

3.      Reduction of speed around schools

4.      Imposing fines for speeding

Why children?

• Children are particularly vulnerable on our roads as their specific needs have not been taken into account in the current road safety management strategies.
• Children are not small versions of adults-they are more impulsive, easily distracted and less able to judge the speed and distance of approaching traffic.
• They need extra protection to ensure they are safe. Universal Primary Education must be supported by safe access to schools.
• Reducing the speed of traffic and creating safe routes to walk to school have been proven to reduce the number of deaths and injuries of children.
• Children understand and react to complex traffic situations in different ways from adults. Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of disability for children.

The Traffic Amendment Bill, 2014 will protect our children from being killed or injured on their way to and from school and the entire communities. By supporting the Traffic Amendment Bill, 2014, Members of parliament will be affirming their commitment to safeguarding the future of our children as well as the prosperity of our country.

Please join us by signing our online petition and speaking to members of parliament to vote in favor of the Bill.