The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has released a set of road safety instructions for parents, schools, and transport operators as thousands of children return to school for Term 1 of 2026.
The authority emphasized that the safety of school-going children is a shared responsibility among private motorists, public transport operators, school administrators, and parents or guardians.
“We urge all road users to strictly comply with traffic rules, plan their journeys adequately, and avoid night travel due to reduced visibility,” NTSA stated in a release dated December 30, 2025.
Vehicle Owners Must Be Proactive
NTSA called on vehicle owners to ensure that any vehicles used for transporting children are roadworthy, properly maintained, and fully licensed, including valid insurance, road service licenses, and inspection certificates.
The authority warned parents and guardians not to allow children to board non-compliant vehicles, noting that previous inspections revealed serious defects in some school transport vehicles. These included:
- Faulty or non-transmitting speed limiters
- Defective brakes
- Missing or malfunctioning seat belts
- Unstable seats
- Faulty door locks
“Vehicle owners are advised to take advantage of the next few days before schools reopen and present their vehicles for the mandatory annual inspection, as all NTSA inspection centers are open and operational,” the statement read.
Speed Limiter Compliance
NTSA also directed speed limiter vendors to ensure that all devices installed on vehicles comply with KS 2295:2018 standards, including proper functioning, speed limiting, data storage, and real-time transmission to NTSA systems.
“By adhering to these measures and working together, we can significantly reduce risks and ensure the safe return of our children to school. Multi-agency road safety compliance checks will continue uninterrupted to uphold the highest safety standards for our children,” NTSA added.
