NAIROBI, Kenya- School drop-offs and pick-ups are about to get a serious safety upgrade.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has proposed a series of new regulations aimed at protecting children as they board and disembark from school buses.
From crossing guards to hi-tech bus features, these measures could help prevent road accidents involving school children.
Anyone who’s ever witnessed the chaos around school zones during peak hours knows that student safety is often at risk.
That’s why NTSA is pushing for designated crossing guards to direct traffic and help students safely navigate busy roads near schools.
But that’s not all—NTSA also wants school buses to have vehicle attendants to assist children as they enter and exit, ensuring they don’t trip, get left behind, or run into oncoming traffic.
“Pick-up and drop-off hours within school zones can be very dangerous for children, and measures must be taken to safeguard their safety,” NTSA stated.
This move aligns with global best practices, where supervised school transport significantly reduces accidents involving young passengers.
Update: To enhance the safety of our children , the Draft Traffic ( School Transport ) Rules 2025, envisions that where a vehicle is over 30 feet , the vehicle shall install reflectorized red stop signal arms on the front and rear right hand. 📌The Stop Signal Arm and dual…
NTSA’s proposal includes a list of safety features that will soon become standard for all school transport vehicles.
- Reflectorized stop signal arms at the front and rear—motorists will be legally required to stop whenever the red arm is extended.
- Bold safety messages—buses must display ‘SCHOOL BUS’ on both ends and ‘DO NOT PASS WHEN RED LIGHTS ARE FLASHING’ in 8-inch black block letters on the back.
- Onboard cameras and telematics systems—buses will need to be equipped with passenger-facing cameras to monitor activity inside.
- Fire extinguishers—every school transport vehicle must have at least one, meeting official safety standards.
Failure to stop for a school bus with flashing red lights will be a serious traffic offense, punishable by a six-month driving license suspension upon conviction, according to the Draft Traffic (School Transport) Rules 2024.
