New research from Brake and AXA UK shows 62% of drivers worry about the cost of vehicle repairs. How about Kenya?
New research into how the cost-of-living crisis affects road safety, released today by Brake and AXA UK, highlights tough decisions that people are facing every day when getting into their vehicles. As the cost-of-living crisis continues, Brake calls for essential measures to be put in place to protect everyone using roads.

• 62% of people are concerned about being able to carry out timely repairs to their vehicle.
• More than half of people worry about the cost of having their vehicle serviced.
• 72% of people have chosen to walk or cycle short journeys that they used to do by car/motorcycle or public transport as a way to save money.

Nearly two-thirds (62%) of drivers surveyed are worried about being able to afford timely repairs to their vehicles.

This increases to 84% of 17-24-year-olds, of whom a high proportion (71%) are likely to use their vehicles every day. This suggests that the vehicles on our roads are becoming increasingly unsafe as the cost-of-living crisis continues.

The report – ‘How the cost-of-living crisis affects road safety’ – released today (16 May 2023) by Brake and AXA UK, highlights tough decisions that people are facing every day when getting into their vehicles. Of the 2,000 people surveyed, one in 10 (10%) said they had driven or ridden their vehicles while there were warning lights on the dashboard, with a similar number (10%) also saying they had driven or ridden with a broken light in the dark.

Lucy Straker, Campaigns Manager at Brake, said: “It is clear to us that the cost-of-living crisis is having a detrimental effect on the safety of people on our roads. And as the cost-of-living crisis will not be resolved in the short term, it is essential that measures are put in place to protect everyone using the roads.

“Nearly three-quarters of people we surveyed said they had been walking, cycling and wheeling more as a way to save money. This increase coincides with the Government cutting the Active Travel budget by 50% this year. If they want people to make safe and healthy journeys, then this investment in safe pavements, segregated routes and improved cycle lanes must be reinstated.”

In addition, 18% of respondents said they had driven with known tyre defects as a way to save money. This is a 7% increase to the research conducted by Brake a decade previously, which indicates how behaviours towards these safety decisions have been forced to change.

Vehicle defects contribute to nearly 500 people being killed or seriously injured on UK roads every year. Plus, drivers can be fined up to £2,500, be banned from driving and get three penalty points for driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition.

Lucas Munene of Pamoja road safety initiative has this to say:

“This research was conducted in the UK, Pamoja’s Opinion is that the cost of living in Kenya has affected road safety in higher proportion that the UK. The Minister for Transport has said that the driver of the Matatu that killed students in Naivasha was on a suicide mission. With many people at risk of compromising their safety or worried they may have to due to the cost-of-living crisis, more must be done to improve the safety of everyone who travels on Kenya roads.”