With schools set to reopen soon, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has put motorists and school administrators on notice, spelling out what it expects from vehicles used to ferry learners.
In a statement, NTSA called on school administrators to check that every vehicle in their transport fleet is in good mechanical condition, has passed the required inspections, and meets road safety standards before it’s cleared to carry children.
According to NTSA, this means having an up-to-date inspection certificate, a valid Road Service Licence (RSL), and proper insurance cover. Operators who send unroadworthy vehicles out on the road were cautioned that this would not be tolerated.
The authority also flagged an often-overlooked requirement: speed governors need to be working and actively sending data to NTSA’s Intelligent Road Safety Management System (IRSMS). A governor that’s fitted but not transmitting, officials noted, defeats the purpose.
“As schools prepare to reopen, all school administrators are urged to ensure that their transport vehicles are roadworthy and compliant with safety regulations,” NTSA said in the notice.
Beyond paperwork, drivers were told to get their vehicles serviced before classes resume, paying close attention to brakes, tyres, lights and side mirrors, the parts most likely to cause trouble if neglected.
NTSA also stressed that anyone behind the wheel or working as a conductor on a school transport vehicle must be carrying a valid driving licence and, where applicable, a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) badge.
On passenger safety, the authority was firm, no overloading. Every learner should have a proper seat and a fastened seatbelt for the entire trip. Drivers and conductors were also told to watch out for children sticking body parts out of windows, a habit that has led to serious injuries in past accidents.
There was also a call for vigilance around learner welfare more broadly, operators were asked to flag any case where a child appears to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol while being transported.
This latest notice lands at a time when NTSA has been ramping up enforcement on the roads generally, cracking down on drink-driving, speeding, reckless overtaking and similar offences.
Alcoblow exercises have become more frequent on major highways and at bus stations, alongside closer monitoring of phone use behind the wheel, poor lane discipline and distracted driving.
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