Invest in pipeline, railway to reduce oil tanker accidents

The company focuses heavily on driver monitoring to ensure that they are fit to drive at all times.

The oil company also focuses on vehicle maintenance and route hazards awareness.

Drivers are coached on managing emergency situations should they occur.

The EAC will need to harmonise road safety standards and enforcement for the long-haul transporters.

Turning to PSV safety, the Ministry of Transport needs to take serious ownership of the existing passenger safety problem and come up with new enforceable regulations.

Key among them are the minimum age permissible for a PSV driver, special skills training for certification of PSV drivers, fatigue and sleep control measures that ensure the drivers are fit to drive by limiting maximum working hours, medical tests for specific ailments that interfere with driver concentration (for example diabetes, blood pressure, eye sight and hearing among others), and random tests by police on alcohol.

Road courtesy

We would wish to see the establishment of an academy for advanced driving that will transfer special skills for sensitive sectors like PSV and petroleum transportation among others.

They should be taught on road courtesy, handling emergencies, and handling customers/passengers among other competencies.

We are aware that the government has revived the National Road Safety Council and it is hoped that they will address management of road safety more holistically by working on road safety laws and advise on appropriate road safety management systems.

We also hope that the Council will be sufficiently resourced with money and experts and empowered to take action.

We expect the Council to approach road safety the way NACADA and NACC have visibly managed their respective portfolios.

Mr Wachira works for Petroleum Focus Consultants. Email: Wachira@petroleumfocus.com