Stop Arms, CCTV- Govt's New Measures For All School Buses To Curb Accidents
Additionally, the regulations bring about the mandatory inclusion of materials and technology for those building school buses that will protect passengers in case of accidents.
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Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed that the government has finalised the drafting of the School Transport Rules aimed at better regulating and enhancing the safety of pupils and students using school buses in the country.
In a statement on Tuesday, March 19, Murkomen revealed that the regulations contain provisions that include the installation of stop arms, a feature commonplace in school buses in developed countries such as the United States of America (USA).
Additionally, the regulations bring about the mandatory inclusion of materials and technology for those building school buses that will protect passengers in case of accidents.
A fleet of school buses in Kenya. /TRACK N TRACE
"Anchor the usage of vehicular telematics technology (a system that enables close monitoring of vehicle movements from a distance) whose standard is currently being concluded by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS)," he stated in part.
Murkomen also talked of the introduction of school vehicle attendants for pre-primary and primary school children to enhance safety.
A school bus attendant provides assistance and order for students during school bus rides to and from school, or on field trips. School bus attendants work for the transportation service department in school districts or directly for private schools.
Typical job duties of a school bus attendant are greeting students as they board, showing passengers to their assigned seats, making sure they buckle their seatbelts, and helping students with special needs.
A school bus attendant also supervises students to make sure they behave during the ride and often accompanies students from the bus to the school entrance.
Murkomen also revealed the introduction of enhanced safety features for school vehicles including red light indicators and CCTV cameras.
"Requirement for the development and implementation of school transport operations policy. Safer procedures for the operation of school vehicles," the CS stated other regulations.
However, the CS did not reveal if the new regulations will also apply to university buses.
This especially comes after a grisly accident occurred along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway on Monday involving a Kenyatta University bus and a trailer. This accident resulted in the death of 11 students while 20 people sustained severe injuries.
Murkomen at the same time announced the implementation of driver re-testing which was postponed following an outcry from the Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) and heavy commercial vehicle sector, whose drivers were targeted for the retesting.
Furthermore, Murkomen ordered NTSA to put in place measures for the implementation of medical testing of all drivers before the issuance of any new driving licences and renewal to ensure that only medically fit drivers are licensed to drive.
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