Road traffic accidents (RTA) pose a significant threat globally, with African countries experiencing a particularly high fatality index, ranging from 25 to 34 per quota. Kenya, in particular, stands out with a fatality rate estimated at 28 per quota by the World Health Organization. This section introduces the pressing issue of road safety in Kenya, emphasizing the need for comprehensive data to address the escalating challenge.
Escalating Fatality and Injury Rates in Kenya
Delving into existing literature, it is revealed that Kenya has witnessed a concerning increase in both fatality and injury rates since 2015. A staggering 26% rise in fatalities and a 46.5% surge in injuries underscore the urgency of addressing road safety issues in the country.
This section provides context to the escalating problem and highlights the gaps in data collection that hinder effective planning and policy adjustments.
Mining Data for Solutions
This paper undertakes an innovative approach to bridge the data gap by scraping user-generated data from Twitter and utilizing the National Transport and safety authority’s (NTSA) reports.
The combination of 1,000,000 tweets and 8000 speeding entries spanning 2015 to 2021 forms the basis for a comprehensive analysis of Kenya’s traffic safety, practices, and cultures. This section introduces the unique methodology employed to extract structured and unstructured data insights.
NLP Analysis and Quantitative Study
Applying natural language processing (NLP) and quantitative analysis, the study categorizes the data into eight topics: traffic, public service vehicles (PSVs), policing, accidents, infrastructure, recklessness, robbery, and corruption.
By employing NLP and n-gram search of keywords, the research identifies key discussion points within the data, providing a nuanced understanding of the prevalent issues affecting public discourse on road safety.
Policing, PSVs, and Key Traffic Concerns
The data analysis reveals a complex web of correlations, with policing emerging as a central theme closely tied to PSVs, recklessness, accidents, traffic congestion, robbery, infrastructure, and corruption.
The high correlation indices emphasize the interconnected nature of these topics within the context of road safety challenges in Kenya. This section highlights the factors influencing the public’s perception and discussion.
Key Issues Uncovered
Isolating key concerns from the data, the study identifies PSVs, policing, and traffic flow as critical issues requiring immediate attention. The intricate relationship between these elements highlights their collective impact on road safety and the overall traffic ecosystem. This section emphasizes the urgency of addressing these specific areas for effective policy adjustments and planning.
Recommendations for Road Safety Enhancement in Kenya
In response to the findings, the research recommends integrating driver monitoring systems to strengthen policing efforts. This forward-looking suggestion aims to address the identified issues systematically and enhance the overall safety of Kenya’s roadways. The paper concludes by underscoring the significance of data mining in addressing traffic research challenges, particularly in regions like Africa facing data inadequacy.
Original Article:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0386111222000103
