National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) announced the rollout of online learning aimed at acquainting drivers with road safety knowledge.Through a statement dated Friday, September 30, the authority noted the training will be done using short videos, which would be used on various digital platforms to ensure road safety educational materials are accessible to the public.
In the scheme, the Highway Code currently used for training new drivers on road safety, traffic signs, rules, and road discipline, will be packaged into short videos that will be availed to driving schools and digital platforms for public use.
NTSA noted that online learning is tailored to reduce human-related factors leading to road accidents such as speeding, careless overtaking, overloading, and driver fatigue.Explaining how the module was developed, NTSA noted that law enforcement officers and other experts played a key role in the video productio.The rollout follows a collaboration between NTSA and Isuzu East Africa, a motor vehicle manufacturing company, aimed at scaling road safety.
Speaking during the launch, NTSA director general, George Njao, lauded the move stating that digitisation of the road safety information would ensure maximum online reach for all road users.Njao explained that the initiative was expected to reduce road accident fatalities in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), which aims to provide good health and well-being for humanity.
The rollout follows the launch of a nationwide operation targeting motorists flouting traffic rules. National Police Service (NPS) noted that the crackdown was aimed at enforcing the use of seat belts, ascertaining Road Service Licence (RSL) and enforcing route compliance among Public Service Vehicles (PSVs).Police spokesperson Bruno Shioso further explained that the drive was meant to verify PSV licence and badge validity, Motor vehicle Inspection stickers, monitor fleet speed and enforce Lane discipline to prevent overlapping and dangerous overtaking.
NTSA data further painted a grim picture revealing that from January to September 2022, the number of fatalities also shot up to 3,541 as compared to 3,286 who perished in the same period in 2021.
“From January 1 to September 26, 2022, we have recorded a total of 15,924 road crashes victims countrywide; 3,541 victims were fatally injured, 7,236 persons seriously injured, while 5,147 victims were slightly injured.Vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, motorcyclists and pillion passengers are the most affected in these statistics,” the statement read in part.
Article By Suzy Nyongesa.