NTSA intensifies school holiday road safety

By Newsflash Writer

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), in collaboration with the National Police Service, County Transport and Safety Committees and other stakeholders, has announced an intensified road safety campaign aimed at protecting school children travelling home for the August holidays.

The enhanced operation, dubbed Operation Watoto Wafike Salama, will see multi-agency teams increase patrols, conduct compliance checks and roll out public awareness campaigns along major transport corridors as schools close for the holiday break.

NTSA said the increase in travel during the school holidays significantly raises the risk of road traffic crashes involving learners, making heightened vigilance by motorists, parents, transport operators and the public essential.

Multi-agency crackdown

Under the campaign, enforcement officers will carry out heightened patrols and spot checks on vehicles transporting children to ensure they meet safety requirements.

The operation will include random inspections focusing on vehicle roadworthiness, functional speed limiters, seat belts, tyres, brakes, lights and other critical safety features.

Authorities will also crack down on speeding, overloading, drunk driving, driver fatigue and other traffic violations that endanger the lives of learners.

In addition, officers will conduct random compliance checks on driving licences, Public Service Vehicle (PSV) badges, road service licences and vehicle inspection certificates to ensure transport operators comply with existing regulations.

NTSA, through a statement signed by Director General Nashon Kondiwa, on Wednesday, July 23, said the exercise forms part of its broader commitment to reducing road crashes involving school-going children.

Public urged to support campaign

The Authority has also appealed to members of the public to play an active role in safeguarding children by reporting reckless or unsafe practices witnessed on the roads.

Motorists have been urged to exercise extra caution, especially in areas with heavy movement of school buses and vehicles ferrying learners.

Parents and guardians have also been advised to ensure the vehicles transporting their children comply with all road safety requirements before beginning their journeys.

To facilitate prompt action, NTSA encouraged the public to report dangerous incidents through emergency hotlines operated by the National Police Service, St. John Ambulance and the Kenya Red Cross, or via the NTSA incident reporting platform.

The Authority emphasised that road safety is a shared responsibility and called on all stakeholders to work together to ensure every child reaches home safely.

“Every child deserves to reach home safely,” NTSA said, urging all road users to observe traffic rules and support the nationwide campaign throughout the school holiday period.