NAIROBI: 3rd March, 2024
National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA) sponsors School Drivers healthcare services and capacity building on Road Safety.
County Executive Committee Member for Talent Skills Development and Care Rosemary Kariuki represented Governor Sakaja in an event that saw School Drivers across the City receive training on road safety and free medical services that was sponsored by NTSA.
Ms. Kariuki who spoke on behalf of H.E. Governor Sakaja said “The noble act of training and educating School drivers shows the understanding that training and education are pillars of road safety strategies and solutions for increasing road safety. Besides Driver Education, Driver characteristics which include but not limited to Driver physical, mental and emotional wellness contribute to road risks.”
The medical camp planned alongside the training today therefore becomes very relevant as School drivers will receive a wide range of healthcare services towards improving their wellbeing that in turn enhances their driver ability and performance.
She said, for a long time, human error has been considered a major cause of road safety problems since humans are, by nature, subject to errors. Driver training is therefore believed to enhance driving performance, driving actions, knowledge and driving awareness. School Drivers are a critical driver population because they carry the lives of young ones who are the future of our Nation.
The County Executive Further said “Consequently, school driver training programmes are a good entry point towards road safety. Other road users including adult and children pedestrians need to be capacity built on road safety. I recognize that NTSA has in the past embarked on teaching road safety to school children”.
“I would be glad to see more of such road safety education programmes to learners in Nairobi where they are taught among other things, road signs and traffic rules to observe when crossing the highways and other streets. This would go a long way in reducing road accidents involving children along the highways and the streets.” She said.
Driver Education has for a long time been offered majorly by private players. However, in the recent past, the government, has increasingly joined in the Driver Education programs. Nairobi City County Government in particular has not been left behind. In the past year, H.E the governor has established Four (4) Driving Schools in the County’s Vocational Training Centers namely: Kangemi, Mathare, Waithaka and Dandora Greenlight. In this initiative the County is partnering with NTSA for provision of accredited Driver trainers.
To date, this Driving schools have an enrolment of about one Hundred and sixty (160) learners who are taking the different categories of Driver and motorcycle training. We plan to make Nairobi City County Driving Schools models of excellence in driver Education in Kenya.
We are therefore deliberate in anchoring our training programs towards conscious safety behavior. This is being done through equipping driver trainees with a strong foundation in road fundamental skills, safety, traffic laws and vehicle operation. Secondly our programs are designed to promote responsible Habits including safe practices, defensive driving techniques, and the importance of adhering to traffic rules.
Further, our programmes are geared towards Risk Management: where our driver trainees are equipped with the tools to recognize potential risks and hazards on the road. By understanding the consequences of reckless actions, our graduate driver trainees can make informed decisions to prevent accidents.
Nairobi City County Driving Schools programmes are oriented towards cultivating a Safety Culture. This is through consistent messages about safe driving and reinforcing good habits in our driver trainings towards minimizing risky behaviors.
Ms. Kariuki said the County wishes to call upon all stakeholders interested in Road safety matters to collaborate with the County Government in, Strengthening existing Driver Education programmes in the our Vocational Training Centres, Establishing relevant programmes such as those promoting health and wellness to ensure that NCCC driver trainees receive holistic Education and psychosocial support and Initiating road safety training to learners in Nairobi County ECDs and Vocational Training Centres among other initiatives.
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