The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) on Friday, August 4, announced new road safety measures aimed at preventing accidents involving school children.
As the second term comes to an end and schools prepare to close next week, the authority's Road Safety Strategy Manager, Samwel Musumba, highlighted that starting next week, public transport will be closely monitored, with special attention given to the behaviour of students in vehicles and their compliance with safety belt usage.
Musumba cited past instances when students were captured on video consuming alcohol after closing school, highlighting the need for stricter monitoring and ensuring the safety of students during their travels.
"When we find these buses then as an authority we will definitely take action within the law because that is not right. We have to protect our children and ensure that they get home in one piece," he stated.
Musumba emphasised that drivers who violate traffic rules risk losing their driving licenses. Meanwhile, school administrators received guidance to release students earlier to prevent situations where drivers speed to reach their destinations faster.
Additionally, institutions intending to transport students using their buses were strongly advised to ensure that the vehicles are in good condition.
"Drivers are also either overworked or under stress. When the drivers say they are unwell then find a replacement for them," Musumba added.
The NTSA's measures come months after road agencies were criticized for an April accident along the Nakuru Highway, where six students lost their lives.
Reports indicated that the driver attempted to overtake before hitting a lorry around the Delamare area in Naivasha.
In July, the Ministry of Transport responded to the alarming rise in road accidents in the country by proposing stringent new measures.
To address the issue, Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen issued various directives including mandating all Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) and school buses to be equipped with dashboard cameras and telematics.
The gravity of the situation is emphasized by the latest statistics from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA). According to their data, between January and June 2023, a total of 2,124 lives were lost in road accidents across Kenya.
