NTSA issues directives for school bus safety as holidays approach

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has directed school bus drivers to comply with traffic rules and regulations as schools close for the holidays.

On Friday, the authority issued several directives to ensure all school transport vehicles, akin to Public Service Vehicles (PSVs), adhere to specific requirements.

School buses must possess a valid Road Service License (RSL) and a valid inspection certificate to operate legally.

The vehicles should also be roadworthy, and meet all safety standards, and be fitted with a functional speed limiter.

Students at the bus station on March 29, 2024. (Photo: Justine Ondieki).

Drivers should also hold the requisite Driving License (DL) class endorsement and possess a valid PSV badge, indicating compliance with regulations and proficiency in operating PSVs.

“It is our collective responsibility to ensure our children arrive home safely. Adhering to traffic laws and regulations is crucial to achieving this," the authority said.

The measures, aimed at safeguarding the well-being of students during their commute, come against the backdrop of cases of accidents involving school buses.

On Wednesday, a Moi University bus carrying 65 students was involved in an accident at Kimende on the Nakuru-Nairobi highway. The accident resulted in the suspension of all academic trips until after the Easter holidays.

Students at bus station in Nairobi travelling to their homes after closing school on March 29, 2024. (Photo: Justine Ondieki).

Vice-Chancellor Isaac Kosgey noted that there were no casualties and all students were safe. He urged all drivers and road users to exercise extra caution during the Easter holidays.

Another accident on the Mombasa-Nairobi highway on March 18, 2024, also left 11 students from Kenyatta University dead and many others injured.

The students were heading to Mombasa on a trip from Nairobi. 42 others sustained injuries, with some in critical condition.

According to police reports, the driver of the bus was overtaking a fleet of vehicles, and it was raining heavily, prompting the bus to swerve to the right side of the road to evade a head-on collision with the truck.

The driver of a bus carrying students from Kapsabet Boys High School on March 16, 2024, also lost control and rolled over, resulting in the deaths of a teacher and a student.

The tragedies have raised serious concerns about road safety and the need for enhanced measures to prevent further loss of life on Kenyan roads.

Police statistics show that at least 4,000 people die in road accidents annually.