The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has urged motorists, public transport operators, and parents to prioritize children’s safety as schools reopen, warning against the use of non-compliant vehicles.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, the Authority highlighted serious safety defects previously found in school transport vehicles, including faulty speed limiters, defective brakes, and missing seat belts, and called for strict compliance with traffic rules and mandatory vehicle inspections.
With thousands of learners expected to return to school in the coming days, NTSA emphasized that road safety is a shared responsibility.
“Private motorists, public transport operators, school administrators, and parents/guardians all share a significant responsibility in safeguarding the safety of our children during this busy season,” the Authority said.
NTSA urged all road users to plan their journeys adequately, strictly observe traffic regulations, and avoid night travel due to reduced visibility.
The Authority reminded vehicle owners that, following the long holiday break, all vehicles used to transport children must be properly maintained and roadworthy.
These vehicles should also be fully licensed, with valid insurance, road service licences, and inspection certificates.
NTSA stressed that compliance is not optional, noting that previous inspections had exposed worrying safety gaps in school transport.
“Previous compliance checks and inspections highlighted major defects in school transport vehicles,” NTSA said, listing “faulty or non-transmitting speed limiters, defective brakes, missing or faulty seat belts, unstable seats, [and] malfunctioning door locks” among the most common issues identified.
As a result, parents and guardians were strongly cautioned against allowing children to board vehicles that do not meet safety standards. “Do not permit your children to board any non-compliant vehicles,” the Authority appealed.
To support compliance ahead of the school reopening, NTSA advised motor vehicle owners to take advantage of the remaining days to present their vehicles for the mandatory annual inspection.
The Authority confirmed that all NTSA motor vehicle inspection centres are open and operational. In addition, speed limiter vendors were directed to ensure that all installed gadgets fully comply with KS 2295:2018 requirements, including proper speed limiting, data storage, and real-time transmission to the NTSA system.
NTSA said adherence to these measures would significantly reduce risks on the roads during the back-to-school rush. “By adhering to these measures and working together, we can significantly reduce risks and ensure the safe return of our children to school,” the statement read.
The Authority also assured the public that multi-agency road safety compliance checks will continue uninterrupted nationwide to uphold the highest standards of safety for school-going children.
