The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has announced fresh compliance checks on school transport vehicles as learners prepare to return for the new term. The inspections, set to begin next week, are part of the ongoing “Operation Watoto Wafike Salama” campaign aimed at improving safety standards for students on the road.
According to the authority, the move is driven by concerns that poorly maintained school buses and vans continue to contribute to accidents involving learners. Inspectors will focus on the mechanical condition of vehicles, checking key components such as brakes, tyres, lights, and overall structural soundness to confirm they meet roadworthiness standards.
NTSA has directed vehicle owners and drivers to ensure all documentation is up to date, including valid inspection certificates, insurance, and the required licenses. Beyond paperwork, officials will closely monitor driver conduct, looking at adherence to traffic rules, discipline on the road, and overall behaviour while transporting students.
The agency will also enforce safety requirements such as the installation and proper use of seat belts, functional speed limiters, and sobriety among drivers and conductors. In addition, school vehicles must operate strictly within approved routes and timelines, with a ban on trips before 6am or after 6pm remaining in force. Authorities say these measures are meant to reduce risks and ensure learners travel safely to and from school.
