Infrastructure Design on Road Safety Along Outering Roads in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Abstract

Urban road accidents have been on the increase across the globe, including in Kenya, with far-reaching social and economic impacts. Various factors contribute to road accidents and the associated effects in the literature. The factors contributing to and influencing road accidents vary from location to location, as informed by the research studies undertaken. Consequently, the current research evaluated road infrastructure design’s effects on road safety in Nairobi City County and identify the possible solution to the causes. The research adopted an exploratory research design to answer the research questions. The study’s target population are the road users of Outering road in Nairobi’s Embakasi region, including drivers, conductors, and passengers, boda-boda operators and pedestrians. The research adopted a stratified and systematic sampling method to identify the sample population, with the sample size being 404 participants. The sample population included 308 passengers and pedestrians, 45 drivers (including boda-boda drivers), 45 conductors, four police officers, 1 KURA official and 1 NTSA official. The specific target group were drivers and conductors of Embassava and the passengers that are transported by the vehicles of the Sacco using the Outering road, as well as boda-boda operators. Semi-structured questionnaires were the primary tool for soliciting data from respondents from the target respondents. Data was analysed through descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and regression. The study showed that road signage significantly affected road safety, while road drainage and lighting had no significant effect. The predictors accounted for 26.7% of the variance in road safety. The study is particularly relevant to policymakers and practitioners in the transport sector. The findings highlight the need for investments in infrastructure improvements that enhance road safety in Nairobi County and the importance of involving road users in designing and implementing road infrastructure projects.