New rules propose drivers be trained every 10 years
Motorists drive past a tuk tuk that overturned after wrongly overtaking on Mombasa-Malindi road early this month. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA
All drivers will be required to go back to driving schools for a full course after every 10 years in yet another move aimed at cutting road carnage.
A new driving curriculum developed by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) also proposes to restrict the minimum age for drivers of 33-seater buses at 30 years.
The NTSA has invited public comments over the next nine days on the new curriculum, which is expected to come into effect in March.
“All licences shall be renewed annually for a period of nine years. On the 10th year, the licence holder shall be required to repeat the training and examination process, obtain a new certificate of competence and undergo a medical examination,” the curriculum says.
Currently, one can get a licence of up to three years but this will now be scrapped according to the curriculum.
In addition, drivers who are aged 60 and above will be required to have a medical fitness report annually before renewal of their driving licences.
The requirement for re-testing is likely to boost the earnings of driving schools. The regulations are also set to clamp down on matatu drivers by ensuring only those above 30 and with the requisite experience would be allowed to drive buses carrying 33 passengers and above.
A proportion of reckless driving by matatus has been attributed to drivers being too young and lacking the necessary experience and resulting in accidents.
“Drivers have a high level of responsibility and their actions can influence the lives of many people, especially the drivers of PSVs (public service vehicles) and HGVs (heavy goods vehicles),” NTSA director-general Francis Meja said.
“It is therefore important that these drivers are highly skilled and experienced. The curriculum states minimum levels of driving experience that are required before training can begin for these classes of vehicles.”
According to the curriculum, one will need to be at least 25- years- old to drive a mini-bus of 14-32 passengers.
Drivers will be classified into six different categories according to the complexity of the vehicles.
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