The National Transport and Safety Authority has, among others, proposed two major new safety measures that will revolutionize the operations of commercial vehicles in Kenya.
The Draft National Transport and Safety Authority (Operation of Commercial Service Vehicles) Regulations, 2025, proposes a regulation requiring commercial service vehicles to have underride protection devices (UPDs).
The use of UPDs will be a new phenomenon for commercial vehicles in Kenya.
The underride protection devices are used to improve crash compatibility between passenger vehicles and trucks and/or trailers involved in head-on, rear-end, or side highway crashes.
They mitigate the risk of smaller vehicles sliding underneath larger commercial vehicles in the event of a collision.
“The Draft Regulations propose that each commercial service vehicle shall be installed with underride protection devices on the rear and side of commercial vehicles where applicable conforming to the applicable Kenyan Standard as stipulated by the Kenya Bureau of Standards,” reads the proposal.
Additionally, NTSA has proposed mandatory installation of a vehicular telematics system that will help fleet managers optimize the operation of their commercial vehicles.
“As an obligation on the part of the Commercial Service Vehicle Operators, the Draft National Transport and Safety Authority (Operation of Commercial Service Vehicles) Regulations, 2025, propose that a commercial vehicle shall have installed a vehicular telematic system conforming to the applicable 6 Kenyan Standard as stipulated by the Kenya Bureau of Standards,” the proposal reads.
Telematics systems gather data including vehicle location, driver behaviour, engine diagnostics and vehicle activity.
They gather the data using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, sensors and vehicle engine data.
Once gathered, the data is temporarily stored in a telematics device that is installed in each vehicle. It is then transmitted over private cellular networks to secure servers.
It is this central data hub that enables fleet management software to provide easy-to-understand visualizations that help fleet managers optimize the operation of commercial vehicles.
Already, telematics devices are currently used by taxi-hailing apps where they are connected to in-cab driver interfaces.
Through telematics devices, cab drivers and riders receive trip requests, capture proof of delivery of goods and services, complete pre-trip inspections and even get real-time feedback on driving performance and experiences.
Other proposals listed by NTSA include commercial vehicles to have retro-reflective contour markings with a minimum width of two inches that conform to the applicable Kenyan Standard as stipulated by the Kenya Bureau of Standards as illustrated in the Second Schedule.
Commercial vehicles will also have to carry an efficient fire extinguisher that is maintained in perfect order and is carried in such a position to be readily available for use at any time.
In case of a breakdown, commercial vehicle drivers shall be required to immediately place on the road not less than fifty metres from the commercial vehicle, two red reflecting triangles of such construction and dimensions as may be prescribed.
“One shall be placed ahead of the vehicle and the other one behind it, so that each reflecting triangle is visible to drivers of vehicles approaching the commercial vehicle from ahead or behind as the case may be,” NTSA proposed.
