The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) issued new directives in a bid to avert fatalities during the school reopening period.
In a press release dated Monday, January 23, NTSA called on collective responsibility by parents and guardians, motorists and public service vehicles (PSVs) in guaranteeing the safety of school-going children.
NTSA explained that children often suffer from the negligence of adult road users including a spike in violations of traffic rules during the back-to-school season.
"We urge parents to use safe modes of transport to ferry children to and from school. Only complaint and road-worthy vehicles should be used," the statement read in part.
The authority tasked caregivers to verify information on the matatu Sacco, inspection status of the vehicle, licensed route and validity of the Road Service Licence on its mobile application.
On the other hand, PSV operators and school management were directed to ensure that all drivers and conductors were qualified and had valid badges. Riders were not spared either.
"We call upon all drivers and boda boda riders operating within school zones to adhere to the 30kph speed limit in line with the requirements of the law," NTSA directed.
It explained that children were vulnerable road users owing to their size and limitations in vision and hearing, thus their safety needed to be prioritised.
Meanwhile, the institution noted that it will intensify sensitization on road safety awareness and education. It also mulls incorporating the same into the school curriculum.
Every school reporting season, students are exposed to several dangers including boarding vehicles which are not licensed to operate as PSVs.
The high demand forces drivers to either speed, carry surplus or subject drivers to more trips, posing life-threatening risks to passengers.
Notably, students at times put themselves in the line of danger by boarding full vehicles, not fastening their safety belts and having parts of their bodies outside the vehicles.
