NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya’s road safety regulator, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), has announced sweeping reforms aimed at reducing road accidents, with a strong focus on driver health and technology-driven monitoring.
In a notice dated Tuesday, March 31, the Authority outlined new regulations requiring all drivers, particularly those operating commercial and Public Service Vehicles (PSVs), to undergo mandatory, regular medical assessments.
The checks will evaluate conditions that may impair driving ability, including vision and hearing problems, fatigue-related disorders, and chronic illnesses such as diabetes.
“Addressing vision impairments, which affect 20 to 30 per cent of adults, as well as conditions like diabetes, with a prevalence of 3 to 4 per cent, is essential in reducing risks linked to fatigue and impaired reaction times,” the Authority disclosed.
As part of the reforms, NTSA also plans to establish designated rest stops along key transport corridors, including the busy Northern Corridor linking Nairobi to Mombasa and western Kenya.
The move is intended to tackle driver fatigue, widely cited as a major contributor to road crashes involving long-distance truck drivers and PSV operators.
A central pillar of the new strategy is the deployment of advanced digital monitoring systems to track driver behaviour in real time.
These include telematics, dashboard cameras, and GPS tracking tools capable of analysing speed, braking patterns, alertness, and compliance with traffic regulations.
Under the proposed framework, vehicles will be required to install approved systems that transmit data to centralised NTSA platforms. The data will be used to identify risky driving patterns early and enable timely intervention.
The Authority also plans to integrate the new systems with its existing databases to build comprehensive driver profiles, enhancing enforcement and accountability across the transport sector.
“The Safe System Approach, adopted by leading road safety nations and organisations, including the World Bank and the International Transport Forum, offers a paradigm shift,” the NTSA announced.
“It rests on the principle that humans make mistakes, and the human body has a limited tolerance to crash forces. It therefore calls for a system that anticipates mistakes and minimises their consequences,” it added.
The Safe System Approach is increasingly being adopted globally, focusing not only on driver behaviour but also on safer roads, vehicles, and post-crash response mechanisms.
NTSA cited data indicating that commercial vehicles remain a significant contributor to road traffic accidents in Kenya.
Also Read: NTSA withdraws instant traffic fines system weeks after rollout
“According to our Road Safety Status Report 2025, commercial vehicles are an increasingly significant contributor to road traffic accidents. In 2024, commercial vehicles accounted for 1,087 cases compared to 3.645 for all other vehicle categories,” the Authority revealed.
Road safety experts have long warned that rapid growth in Kenya’s transport and logistics sectors, combined with enforcement gaps, has increased risks on major highways.
The reforms form part of a broader government push toward data-driven, preventive road safety strategies, as authorities seek to reduce fatalities on highways that rank among the most dangerous in the region.
If effectively implemented, the measures could mark a shift from reactive enforcement to proactive risk management, targeting the root causes of accidents before they occur.
