Mombasa press club chairman Omar Abdallah has challenged journalists to promote road safety campaigns by telling informative stories within their media platforms.

Abdallah who spoke during the official launch of Mombasa county road safety report 2023,on Tuesday, reiterated on Role of Media in Promoting Road Safety in the country.

He stressed on Effective communication about road safety, whether in the media, in safety campaign materials, or in community outreach efforts, saying it plays an important role in ensuring safety mobility of all road users.

His call comes in the wake of a sustained road safety campaign by government and private sector players from  Mombasa in collaboration with international partner's in the quest to  zero rate on road crashes.

"Media outlets serve as a bridge between the government and the public. By actively participating in such sensitization programs, journalists and media personnel can effectively communicate the importance of road safety to the masses,"said Abdalla.

While acknowledging the significant work done by journalist in ensuring safety on our roads, Abdallah said media can shape the agenda and influence change in public behavior especially on our roads.

"Through news articles, editorials, and public service announcements, media can influence public behavior and encourage adherence to traffic regulations. Understanding the Significance of Road Safety," Omar added.

Mombasa press club and a host of it's members have been among a pool of journalists trained on solution based reporting so as to sensitize the public on the importance of reducing road Carnage in the country.

"Road safety is not just a governmental responsibility but a collective societal duty.

Mombasa Press Club Chairman challenges journalists to take up role of sensitizing members of the club on road safety," he added.

He also called on partners and stakeholders to support the media through award for local journalists and grants for jour Alistair to tell stories.

In the report launched on Tuesday in Mombasa reported number of road traffic deaths increased by 36% in 2023, from 69 in 2022 to 94, while serious injuries rose by 17%, from 161 in 2022 to 188.

Vulnerable road users’ pedestrians, motorcyclists, and cyclists—made up 92% of the reported deaths in 2023, with pedestrians alone accounting for 56% of these deaths.

The findings also showed that deaths were frequently reported from crashes which occurred from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. to midnight.

At the report launch event, Rebecca Bavinger of Bloomberg Philanthropies pointed out that it was great to see the work and progress in Mombasa to save lives from road crashes, however, more needs to be done to see a reduction in deaths and injuries.

 "We commend the county's proactive approach to road safety, notably through the establishment of the County Transport and Safety Committee. BP stands ready to offer further technical assistance, while BIGRS will continue to support the Mombasa County government in enhancing road safety for all users”.