The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has inked a deal with the European Union (EU) to introduce an Automated driving test system in Kenya.
The digital system seeks to reduce human interaction during drive testing to improve quality of drivers on Kenyan roads..
It is also part of the government's strategy to do away with rogue examiners who allegedly recommend trainees without requisite qualifications.
“The automated process will ensure the authority conducts driver tests efficiently and effectively, improving the quality of testing as a result of reduced human interaction.
“The desired role of the automated theory test is to ensure elimination of human interaction in driver testing to improve the quality of drivers on our roads through improved driver skill, knowledge and the right behaviour towards driving,” NTSA stated as reported by Nation.
This, according to NTSA, shall be necessitated by deploying simulators and training vehicles for all driving classes.
With the digital driving tests, NTSA says that all drivers in the country will be subjected to a standardised set of driving theory.
“It is therefore important that drivers are provided with the appropriate knowledge, skills, attitudes and experience for positive behavioural change that consequently enables them to drive safely” NTSA said.
The EU and NTSA said consultants will develop a database of a minimum 5,000 theory questions.
These questions will be validated by NTSA and will be based on the existing curriculum regarding international best practices covering all thematic driver testing domains.
Accidents due to human errors have been estimated at 85 per cent based on challenges related to driving.
The number of road accidents witnessed on Kenyan roads with statistics according to the agency, indicating that at least 3,000 people dies every year due to accidents.
