NTSA's back-to-school transport checklist
All travelling students must have their safety belts on
9d agoWILLIAM WANYOIKEInfographics
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has taken a step towards ensuring the safety of learners during the critical pick-up and drop-off hours.
In a statement released on Wednesday, NTSA announced a new set of measures aimed at addressing the rising concerns regarding school transportation safety.
The measures are part of the Draft Traffic (School Transport) Rules 2025, which were designed to ensure the safety of children while commuting to and from school.
One of the key initiatives outlined by NTSA is the introduction of vehicle attendants on school transport vehicles.
The attendants will be tasked with ensuring that children are safely boarded and remain safe during alighting.
In addition to the vehicle attendants, NTSA highlighted the necessity of crossing guards.
The guards will be stationed at school entry and exit points, as well as pedestrian crossings, to control traffic.
Their role will be to manage the flow of traffic and ensure that children can cross roads safely without the threat of speeding vehicles.
NTSA also highlighted a critical safety measure the “Stop signal arm,” a device that can be extended from the side of a school bus when it is stopped to load or unload students.
The signal will notify other motorists that they must stop and wait for the students to safely board or disembark, preventing accidents that may occur when vehicles try to pass stationary buses.
In 2024, NTSA proposed the Traffic (School Transport) Rules, 2024, which spelt out that school buses must be fitted with safety belts designated for use by children, in the case of elementary schools.
The Rules added that the buses should also have at least one standard fire extinguisher that is readily accessible for use onboard.
Further, the vehicles must also be fitted with dual red light indicators on the uppermost part of the front and rear sides.
They should bear the printed words "School bus" and " Do not pass when red lights are flashing" at the rear in block letters, at least eight inches in black colour.
