NTSA Vows Action On Matatu Drivers Ahead Of School Closure

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) on Friday, August 4 issued a series of warnings to matatu drivers ferrying students ahead of the closure of schools next week.

NTSA Safety Strategy Manager Samwel Musumba warned drivers against tolerating any form of indecent behaviour from students during the course of their trips.

Reiterating the authority's commitment to promoting morality as well as safety, Musumba added that drivers who will be found entertaining indecent behaviours from students within their vehicles such as drinking or smoking will face consequences.

Students from various schools in Eldoret head home at the start of the December holiday on October 28, 2016. /NAIROBI NEWS

"We have seen in the past where you find students on board a matatu drinking or smoking bhang on board. That is bad and we are discouraging that.

"Any operator whose vehicles will be found with such kind of incidences as an authority we will definitely take action within the law because that is not right. We have to protect these children,” said Musumba.

The NTSA boss further urged the drivers to ensure that their passengers, including learners, wear safety belts while on board and observe traffic rules to prevent accidents that can be avoided.

At the same time, Musumba urged schools to ensure that their buses are in proper working condition before ferrying students to and from school.

"Ensure that they belt up when they are on board because they are normal passengers, don't treat them like they are different people, they are just normal passengers. don’t operate into the night and ensure they get their destinations early enough,” the NTSA safety strategy manager stated.

"We also want to urge the school management to ensure that their vehicles are in good condition. Remember that school transport is a public service vehicle that carries passengers just like the matatus."

He also urged school managers to release students early during the day so as to prevent matatus from operating during the night as it poses greater risks of accidents.

"Ensure that schools close early in the mornings. Get the children to wherever destination they are going to early enough and don't operate into the night," Musumba said.

He further asked schools to engage their drivers and know their well-being and look for other drivers in case they are not feeling well, are overworked, under stress or experiencing mental issues.

"As a school management, engage your drivers so that if this driver says he is not feeling well or not fit to drive, please get another driver," Musumba said.

"We have to protect these children and ensure that they are safe. We have to ensure that as they get home, they get home in one piece."

During the seasons of closing and returning to school, children are exposed to the dangers of boarding vehicles that are not licensed to operate as PSVs, boarding full vehicles, not fastening their safety belts and having parts of their bodies outside the vehicles, which increase the likelihood of accidents.

In addition, drivers capitalize on the high demand by breaking rules such as overspeeding, carrying in excess or transport saccos and companies subjecting their drivers to longer working hours inclusive of more trips, which also puts the children at risk.

NTSA Accident Statistics

NTSA revealed on Thursday, March 23 that the number of fatalities from road accidents across the country dropped by 4.6 per cent.

In a statement, the authority reported the reduction in accidents in one year, adding that overall numbers show a drop in fatalities from 1,021 to 974.