Economy

Motorists set for medical checks in new NTSA rules

meja

National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA) director-general Francis Meja. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Drivers will now be required to undergo a medical examination and undertake a retest after every nine years in order to be allowed back on the road.

National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA) director-general Francis Meja said before a student is issued with a driving licence, one would be required to undergo 24 to 160 hours of training, depending on the category.

He said the development of the curriculum was necessitated by the fact that road traffic accidents kill more than 3,000 people in Kenya every year, with 80 per cent of these crashes being a result of human error.

“Therefore, the need to provide sufficient education and skills to enable our drivers to use and follow rules and regulations became a priority,” said Mr Meja.

The new curriculum requires that all driving licences be renewed annually or as may be specified for a period of nine years from the date of issuance.

“All drivers above the age of 70 shall be required to produce a medical fitness report annually before renewal of their driving licences,” says the curriculum that will take effect in October.

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On the 10th year, all drivers will undergo a medical examination and undertake a retest in efforts aimed at curbing road accidents.

The initiative is designed to boost road safety with the tests intending to verify that motorists are free of any medical conditions that may negatively impact on their driving abilities.

The new rules also stipulate that all driving lessons be undertaken at a licensed driving school under a qualified and licensed instructor.
Driving instructions include theory and practical lessons.

“Continuous assessment tests shall be administered upon completion of at least 40hours of learning and shall be in the form of 50 multiple choices questions. A learner must answer at least 35 questions correctly to be deemed   to have passed the test,” states the curriculum.