The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has rolled out new regulations to rein in increasing school-bus-related accidents.
The new regulations signed by Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and shared with Kenyans.co.ke on Tuesday, April 9, mandate buses to ensure that they have signings of specific wordings.
"Each school vehicle shall be fitted dual red light indicator on the uppermost part of the front and rear sides of the bus," read the regulations.
"Each school vehicle shall have the vehicle printed the words “School Bus” on both sides and the words 'Do not pass when red lights are flashing” at the rear in block letters at least 8 inches in black colour."
The buses are also expected to install stop signal arms on the front and rear right-hand side, fitted with a vehicular telematic system and all seats must be fixed, foldable and free from sharp edges and upholstered with soft, shock-absorbent and fire-resistant materials.
The regulations also bar the buses from obstructing windows or bars with adjustments while the vehicles must possess a 'Stop' sign while transporting elementary students.
They should ensure that they have at least one fire extinguisher conforming to the applicable standard issued by the Kenya Bureau of Standards approved type is readily accessible and available for use on board the vehicle.
School drivers, on the other hand, should be in charge of the vehicle and students and will be responsible for the health, safety and welfare of each passenger and should ensure that the vehicles are clean.
When dropping off children, the driver is tasked with ensuring that a child who is disembarking from a motor vehicle has safely disembarked and cleared a safe distance from the motor vehicle.
Directives to All Other Motorists
All other motorists were directed to obey a crosswalk attendant tasked with stopping motorists to allow children to cross a road to or from school and shall have powers to direct, manage and control traffic around the areas of entry into and from exit from the school.
Other duties include stopping motorists to allow school transport motor vehicles the right of way as well as directing motorists around a school to ensure smooth traffic flow.
All the vehicles must also be equipped with first aid kits to deal with any reasonable emergency.
"A person who contravenes any provision of these rules commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding Twenty Thousand Shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or, both," read the regulations in part.
Trucks
For trucks, Murkomen directed that all commercial vehicles should install a speed limiter and a vehicular telematics system.
"Each Commercial Service Vehicle shall have retro-reflective contour markings with a minimum width of two inches that conform to the applicable Kenyan Standard as stipulated by the Kenya Bureau of Standards," read the regulations.
They should also carry an efficient fire extinguisher which shall be maintained in perfect order.
"A person who operates or drives a heavy commercial service vehicle in breach of any provision of these regulations commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding Twenty Thousand Shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or, both," added the regulations.
Drivers and stakeholders aggrieved with any rulings were advised to appeal to the Appeals Board within 14 days.
