NTSA Plans Immediate Re-Tests for Thousands of Drivers Ahead of Festive Season
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is preparing to carry out fresh tests for thousands of drivers as the country approaches the busy December Christmas season.
This move comes as part of the authority’s intensified efforts to reduce road accidents, which have seen a worrying rise in recent years.
NTSA Director General, Angela Wanjira, revealed on Sunday, November 16, a series of new measures designed to enhance road safety during the festive season.
The announcement follows a report showing that the number of road crash victims increased by 2.6 per cent in 2025 compared to the previous year.
Among the key steps, NTSA will require drivers who have been flagged through enforcement actions or identified by the NTSA Intelligent Road Safety Management System (IRSMS) to undergo mandatory re-testing.
These tests are aimed at confirming whether these drivers are still competent to operate vehicles safely on Kenyan roads.
The IRSMS, which was launched in 2023, is central to NTSA’s festive season strategy. It is a sophisticated digital platform that continuously monitors vehicles, including public service vehicles (PSVs) and commercial fleets.
The system tracks a wide range of data, including vehicle speed, driver behavior, braking patterns, and compliance with designated routes.
When violations occur, such as reckless overtaking or speeding, the system immediately generates alerts to notify the authorities.
Because the IRSMS can analyse driver behavior and flag those who breach road safety standards, it allows NTSA to specifically target such drivers for re-training and corrective measures.
This proactive approach aims to improve road safety across the country by ensuring that only competent drivers remain on the roads.
In her statement, Wanjira highlighted that NTSA intends to enforce real-time IRSMS data transmission during the festive season.
This means that PSVs and commercial fleets will be under continuous monitoring, ensuring that any risky behavior is detected and addressed promptly.
Drivers identified by the system as unsafe will face corrective action, which could include losing their licences.
Beyond re-testing drivers, NTSA plans to expand its well-known Usalama Barabarani programme. This initiative promotes safe road practices, including consistent seat belt use, managing driver fatigue, and raising awareness about responsible driving behaviors.
Additionally, the authority will set up pre-festive inspection clinics at major bus termini. These clinics are expected to play a crucial role in ensuring that vehicles, particularly buses that will experience high demand during the festive season, are roadworthy and meet safety standards.
NTSA will also work closely with the National Police Service to strengthen multi-agency strategies that focus on accident prevention rather than just responding after crashes occur.
According to Wanjira, this proactive approach is designed to encourage drivers to follow road safety regulations strictly and reduce the number of accidents during the high-risk festive period.
The festive season has historically been associated with a surge in road accidents in Kenya. By implementing these measures, NTSA aims to significantly enhance road safety, protect passengers, and reduce the loss of lives on the country’s roads during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
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