Truck drivers have called for the formalisation of driver and crew employment amid an alarming spike in accidents during the festive period.
In a statement on Monday, December 15, the Long-Distance Drivers and Conductors Association (LoDDCA) decried the lack of formal employment contracts and structured remuneration within the transport sector, claiming it has left many drivers vulnerable to exploitation, long working hours, and fatigue.
These factors, according to LoDDCA, were directly related to the spike in road accidents, which are largely due to human error.
"The absence of formal contracts and structured remuneration remains a systemic weakness within the transport sector. Full implementation of the NTSA Act provisions on driver contracts and remuneration is essential to protecting driver welfare and reducing risk-driven behavior on the roads," a statement from truck drivers read.
Provisional data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) showed an increase in road crash deaths from 4,479 during the same period in 2024 to 4,682 in 2025, marking a rise of about 5 per cent.
LoDDCA further noted that the lack of formal employment contracts and structured remuneration facilitated unsafe behaviour on roads , with many drivers operating under informal arrangements.
The over reliance on trip-based earnings, according to the association, also encouraged fatigue and risky driving, especially during peak travel periods such as the festive season.
Another call to action from LoDDCA was the full enforcement of a strict eight-hour working limit for PSV drivers, describing it as a non-negotiable road safety measure.
Further, the association called for strengthened multi-agency operations involving transport regulators, police and other institutions who bear a stake in the transport sector.
In the joint enforcement activities, the body urged authorities to include driver representatives from recognised associations in a move which would help verify compliance with labour and safety standards.
The latest statement came at the back of a raft of measures imposed by Chief Justice Martha Koome to curb rising road carnage.
The Judiciary announced on Monday, December 15, that it plans to deploy mobile courts along major transport corridors as part of a raft of new measures aimed at handling traffic offences.
This is part of an elaborate plan by the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ), which brings together, among others, ODPP, NTSA, police, and the Judiciary to reduce road accidents during the festive season. Koome is the chairperson of the 36-member committee.
Meanwhile, NTSA will also reinforce surveillance on high-risk transport corridors to ensure compliance with road regulations among motorists.
According to Koome, the EACC will also deploy officers along roads to nab motorists and traffic police officers who engage in corruption.
"We want to rationalise joint enforcement and feasibility across the country and especially in high-risk corridors to handle traffic matters instantly during the festive season," Koome stated.
