NAIROBI, Kenya — The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has proposed integrating resting stations and medical checkpoints across the Northern Corridor to tackle driver fatigue, a leading cause of fatal crashes involving heavy commercial vehicles.
NTSA Director General Nashon Kondiwa said the initiative will provide drivers with safe spaces to rest while allowing vehicles to undergo essential safety inspections, reducing accident risks along the busy trade route.
“The Northern Corridor is East Africa’s primary trade route. However, it experiences a disproportionately high rate of fatal crashes involving heavy commercial vehicles, with driver fatigue consistently identified as a primary contributing factor,” Kondiwa said.
He noted that long distances, tight delivery schedules, and pressure to meet timelines often lead to micro-sleeps, reduced reaction time, and impaired decision-making at highway speeds.
Kondiwa added that traditional measures such as logbook enforcement, roadside police checks, and driver training have largely operated in isolation, placing excessive responsibility on drivers while failing to address systemic challenges, including inadequate rest infrastructure.
According to NTSA’s Road Safety Status Report 2025, commercial vehicles are increasingly contributing to road traffic accidents. In 2024, commercial vehicles were involved in 1,087 crashes, accounting for 23 P.c of incidents, compared to 3,645 cases involving other vehicle categories. In 2025, the share rose to 26 P.c, indicating a growing trend even as accidents involving other vehicles declined.
Fatality data along high-traffic corridors identifies Nairobi (560 deaths), Kiambu (416), and Nakuru (415) as critical high-risk zones requiring urgent interventions.
Kondiwa said the proposal is anchored on the Safe System Approach adopted by global road safety organisations such as the World Bank and the International Transport Forum.
“This approach recognises that humans make mistakes and that the human body has limited tolerance to crash forces. It emphasises designing a system that anticipates errors and minimises their consequences,” he said.
The framework is built on four pillars — safe roads, safe speeds, safe vehicles, and safe road users. Resting stations fall under safe roads and roadsides, providing secure areas for drivers to rest while vehicles undergo basic inspections.
NTSA noted that key sections such as the Mombasa–Nairobi and Eldoret–Malaba routes lack adequate resting infrastructure, forcing drivers to park on road shoulders, stop in insecure areas, or continue driving while fatigued.
“Drivers are often forced to park on road shoulders, exposing themselves to run-over crashes, stop in insecure areas, or continue driving while fatigued. This not only increases crash risks but undermines driver welfare and transport efficiency,” Kondiwa said.
The authority said the proposed resting stations will offer secure, well-lit facilities with sanitation, nutrition, and security, while enabling vehicle safety checks. Officials added the initiative could reduce cargo losses, lower insurance premiums, and improve driver retention, while also easing pressure on emergency response services.
“Fatigue is inevitable in long-distance transport. By embedding resting stations into a comprehensive safe system, the Northern Corridor can transition from an accident-prone route to a safe, friendly passage for people and goods,” Kondiwa said.
