In an effort to curb road accidents and improve road safety during the busy December festive period, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) will require drivers arrested during enforcement initiatives to undergo mandatory re-testing.
Citing a 2.6 per cent increase in road crash victims in 2025 compared to the previous year, Acting NTSA Director General Angela Wanjira announced a raft of new safety measures on Sunday that are designed to curb road accidents ahead of the busy festive season.
Going forward, the authority will ensure that drivers flagged by the Intelligent Road Safety Management System (IRSMS) and other enforcement agents will undergo mandatory re-testing to ensure their continued fitness and competency on the road.
The IRSMS, a digital platform launched in 2023, plays a key role in the NTSA’s festive season plans by providing comprehensive monitoring of vehicles, specifically targeting PSVs and commercial fleets.
By monitoring speed, driver behavior, braking patterns, and route compliance, the IRSMS identifies and sends alerts for violations such as speeding and reckless overtaking.
Through analyzing violations and alerting authorities to breaches of safety standards, the system allows NTSA to identify and target drivers for necessary retraining, thereby improving overall road safety.
Additionally, Wanjira highlighted, the authority’s plan to mandate real-time IRSMS transmission, guaranteeing continuous safety monitoring for PSVs and commercial fleets.
Drivers flagged by the system during the festive season, she said will be subjected to corrective measures and risk withdrawal of their driving licenses.
Furthermore,she said the authority is also expanding its key Usalama Barabarani programme, which promotes seat belt usage, manages driver fatigue, and raises awareness of responsible driving practices in anticipation of the festive season travel boom, as many Kenyans head to the countryside.
The director stated that they would embark on pre-festive inspection clinics specifically targeting bus termini.
NTSA and the National Police Service will also intensify multi-agency strategies that emphasize accident prevention and according to the Director General, this proactive step will ensure better adherence to road safety standards.
Given the historical rise in road accidents during the holidays, the outlined comprehensive festive season measures underscore the government’s determination to prioritize road safety through proactive enforcement and preparedness.
by Hellen Lunalo
