Stakeholders in the driving school sector have reiterated the urgent need for enhanced road safety measures, citing alarming statistics on road accidents that have been attributed to reckless driving.
During the opening of Topride Driving School’s second branch on Mombasa Road, Chairman Richard Boro stressed the severity of the situation.
“The country is losing more than 4,000 people annually due to road accidents, and five times that number—about 20,000 people—are suffering life-changing injuries,” he said.
Boro highlighted that the accidents are largely preventable through better driver education and training.
He challenged the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to implement mandatory refresher courses for drivers before renewing their licenses.
“Over the years, Kenyan roads have seen significant upgrades, including the introduction of bypasses, interchanges, road links, and expressways," he said.
"Given these changes, drivers need to undergo refresher training, whether they have been on the road for 10 or 20 years. The Highway Code evolves with each new road development, and drivers must stay updated.”
The push for improved driver training is echoed by Caroline Kamicha, Co-Founder and Director of Topride who believes that the current training curriculum is insufficient.
“Driving schools typically offer between 13 to 20 lessons. However, I advocate for at least 35 lessons to ensure that students thoroughly understand road safety rules and regulations,” she said.
Kamicha’s advocacy extends beyond the classroom.
She has been actively mentoring secondary school students in Nairobi, having reached over 4,000 students with road safety education.
Her efforts aim to instil a strong sense of road safety awareness among the younger generation.
Kamicha also highlighted a critical issue regarding driver behaviour.
“I have observed that male drivers often exhibit discourteous behaviour towards female drivers. Despite female drivers being more cautious, they frequently face harassment. It’s essential for all drivers to be respectful and considerate on the road,” she added.
