UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL

ENGINEERING
CE 460

SCHOOL TRANSPORT
GUIDELINES
NANCY ABIRA
SUPERVISOR: PROF O. O. MBECHE

DEFINITIONS
Guidelines: Recommended practices that the
school undertake to meet the transport safety
standards suggested
Learner: A child between 6 and 18 years
enrolled in a school.
Standard: The level of Quality achievement in
relation to a School Transport Safety component.
WHO: World Health Organisation
NTSA: National Transport and Safety Authority
NHTSA: National Highway Traffic Administration
(USA)
RTI: Road Traffic Injuries

INTRODUCTION
Children

are not little adults.

They are vulnerable group of road users.
They are less able to judge danger, cross
roads, their attention span is less, prone to
running, and have poorer perception than
adults
School transportation system should be
forgiving of human error and minimise level
of unsafe user behaviour
Children will be fallible and make mistakes,
but designers must ensure they are not
penalised with death or serious injuries.

INTRODUCTION CONTD
In

Kenya, formal primary and secondary

school begin at year five and end at year
eighteen of child life.
Most schools in Kenya are day schools.
Hence on average a Kenyan child is
exposed to traffic twice daily for a
minimum of twelve (12) years.
Proper planning and layout of guidelines
in school transportation should then be
made a priority.

PROBLEM STATEMENT
In

2009, Kenya was rated fifth in road

carnage worldwide.
1.17 deaths occur worldwide annually.
70% of deaths are in developing
countries
Out of 100,000 vehicles,50 are involved
in fatal accidents in Kenya, South Africa
260 while UK 20.
65% of deaths involve pedestrians,30% of
Statistics
from Kenya
Roadschildren.
Board.
such deaths
being

PROBLEM STATEMENT CONTD

The

trend has over the years worsened

Latest statistics show that 80% of
pedestrian related fatalities are of school
going children. (NTSA, 2014)

PROBLEM STATEMENT CONTD

Accidents Involving School Buses
Friday, 12th July 2013: 3 buses impounded
in Nyahururu for overloading by 26, 17
and 12 extra students(The Kenya Daily
Post,2013)
Friday, 26th April, 2013: 4 students of
Nambale School confirmed dead when
the driver of the school bus attempted to
overtake and hit a lorry (UbAlert Team,
2013)
Thursday, 13th June, 2013: two students
badly injured in two separate accidents in

SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION ON
BUSES AND VANS

School children busing to

school (Share Africa)

Learners on a van to school in

Kenya (SKCC website)

PROBLEM STATEMENT CONTD

Accidents involving Children
Pedestrians
Tuesday, 7th January, 2013: 4 children
killed and one injured by a speeding car.
Children were waiting to cross the road
on their way home(The star, 2013)
Friday, 02nd March, 2012: Nine primary
school children died and forty injured
when hit by a lorry while crossing the
road. Children were shouting and singing
(Daily Nation, 2012)

SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION BY
WALKING

School children walking home from

school in Kericho

School children walking along

the railway track in Kibera
(BBC News, 2013)

PROBLEM STATEMENT CONTD

Accidents Involving Motorcycles
Motorcycles account for over 70% new
vehicles registered every year (WHO,
Global Status Report, 2013)
In Thika district, 54 school children were
killed and 165 injured in 2012 in
accidents involving motorcyclists and
motorists (Kenya Traffic Police
Department statistics)

SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION ON
MOTORCYCLES

Young school children on public service motorcycles taking a school trip (

Daily Nation)

RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The study seeks to address the following:
What is the current level of school
transport safety in Kenya.
What policies and guidelines are currently
available in Kenya to govern the school
transportation system
Are the policies adequate

PURPOSE OF STUDY
Outline

current situation regarding school

transport guidelines and policies
Identify existing gaps if any
Propose better policy positions in relation
to school transportation

JUSTIFICATION OF STUDY
Children

are the backbone of the economy.

There is need to accommodate the role
they play. The study offers opportunity to
policy makers to employ best ways to
safeguard children.

RTIs

are major health concern. They place

heavy burden on health services and
economies. It costs some developing
countries as much as 1-2% of their GNP.
(WHO, Road Safety Manual for Decision
Makers and Practitioners)

LIMITATION OF STUDY
Slight

bias to urban areas

This study does not cover school travel by
aircraft, train, private cars, boats and
canoes.
This study does not recognise
organisations or societies (which are not
schools) but provide school
transportation.

LITERATURE REVIEW
School

transportation takes place under

various circumstances, and influenced by
several factors.
School transportation can be divided in
two types
to and from to school and back
point to point to educational activities
and programs
School transport can be undertaken by
learners themselves (walking and cycling)
or organised collectively

MODES OF TRANSPORTATION
Buses: Specially designated school buses or
public transport buses
Parental driving of learners to school: Becoming
popular with the perceived hazard to public
school transport. Not further discussed in this
study
Motorcycles: Gaining popularity in developing
countries
Cycling and walking: healthiest mode, however
suitable for short trips. In Kenya, associated
with low income earners.
Buses are safer than cars, even when they
are not fitted with seat belts (NTSB, USA)

LITERATURE REVIEW CONTD

Previous Standards and Guidelines.
1. School Safety Standard ManualMinistry of Education, 2008
.Gives guidelines on pedestrian safety, bicycle
safety, safety in public transportation, and
guidelines for schools with transport services
.Should be reviewed to take care of
motorcycle transportation, give guidelines on
vehicle conditions, driver requirements and
environmental conditions around schools.

PREVIOUS STANDARDS AND

GUIDELINES CONTD
2. Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2014
Current legislation, Traffic Act CAP 403
does not address the aspects of child
safety
The bill seeks to amend Section 42 and
insert a new section 105b of CAP 403.
It provides road safety measures for
protecting school children and to provide
enforcement mechanisms

PREVIOUS GUIDELINES CONTD

Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2014
Measures Introduced
All school vehicles to comply with set safety
standards
Vehicles transporting children be painted
yellow
Speed limits around schools.
Vehicle calming devices around schools
Statutory penalties for drivers exceeding
speed limits (10,000- 25,000)

PREVIOUS GUIDELINES CONTD

Transport (Amendment) Bill, 2014
Responsibility of safe school travel
1. Highway authority or County
Government
2. Owner, manager or teacher of a school
who provide school transport
3. Driver
The bill also makes it an offense to use,
cause or permit to be used a vehicle when
its condition involves a danger or injury to
any person

PREVIOUS GUIDELINES CONTD

3. Education Act, Kenya Part (X)
The Act permits (but does not require/
mandate) schools or local authority to
provide free or subsidised school transport
Cabinet Secretary may provide transport
to pupils (in whole or part) or provide
monies in relation to school
transportation.
Despite existence of above standards and
laws, safety of school travel in Kenya
remains a thorny issue.

SCHOOL TRANSPORT IN
NETHERLANDS
Road

safety has improved more for children

than any other population. From 120 deaths to
35 deaths annually (3.3% reduction)
This is due to:
Infrastructure: increase in 30km/h zones, traffic
separation, greater number of roundabouts.
Safety devices: child restrain seats(2004), non
use of child seat belts reduced from 25% to
10% in 2006
Education: Best known way of improving safety.
Vehicle design: car fronts made safer,
introduction of eco friendly yellow bus

SCHOOL TRANSPORT IN
NETHERLANDS CONTD

The Dutch Bicycle Bus (Smart planet, March 6th 2012)

SCHOOL TRANSPORT IN THE USA

School

buses are the primary means of

transport
Children of 5-14 years have the lowest
fatality rates and children under 5 years
the lowest injury rate (NHTSA, US Dept.
of administration, November 2013)
School buses are the safest form of
transportation. Only 6 children die in
school bus crashes annually.
School buses are seven times safer than
passenger cars.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Data sources
Primary data
Direct observation
Interviewing
Secondary data
Literature review of existing works
University library
Internet
Various websites
Government documents

DISCUSSION
The Schools Safety Standard Manual,
stipulates clearly the guidelines necessary
to ensure safety in school transport
Manual has gaps as earlier discussed
Kenya being a developing country, its an
step forward in the right direction
The Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2014 is also
another big stride shows Government
commitment

Parameter
Countries with funded national strategy
that sets targets for reduction of deaths
& injuries

Countries with national policies to

separate road users as a way of
protecting vulnerable road users

Countries with national policies to

separate road users as a way of
protecting vulnerable road users

Countries with national speed limits on

urban roads less than or equal to
50km/h AND allow local authorities to
reduce these

A national drink-driving law based on

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC, and
where the BAC limit for the general
population is 0.05 g/dl.

A national motorcycle helmet law that

covers all riders, on all roads and all
engine types, and requires an

Countries
Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Cte
d'Ivoire, Equatorial

Guinea, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritania

Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, Zambia, Kenya

Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia,

Malawi, Mali, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania,
Zimbabwe

Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Equatorial

Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Niger,
Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal

Benin, DRC, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia,

Mali, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya,
Swaziland

Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central African

Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia,
Guinea-Bissau, Kenya,
Lesotho,
Madagascar,
Global
Status
Report

State of Policies in African Countries -

RECOMMENDATIONS
This study recommends a review of the
School Safety Standard Manual- 2008.
The guidelines are segregated
depending on the modal choice
1. Learner Pedestrian Safety
Walk in direction of oncoming traffic
Obey traffic lights
Cross road only at designated places
Wear bright clothing or reflector bag,
carry a flashlight when it is dark.

RECOMMENDATION CONTD
Safety of Learner on Public Transport
Vehicles
Not accept lifts in vehicles of strangers
Fasten seat belts when in a vehicle
Not board or alight from a moving vehicle
Avoid boarding vehicles with loud music
Desist from sticking out head or hands
from a vehicle

RECOMMENDATION CONTD
Bicycle Safety
Ride with one hand on the handle and not
carry books in hand
Ride in same direction as traffic flow
Follow regular routes; to and from school
Ride in a straight line, always use a bell
or horn to signal other drivers
Wear helmet and reflective clothing all
times

RECOMMENDATION CONTD
Safety on Motorcycles
Applied in conjunction with the NTSA
Operation of the Motorcycles, 2014
Secured with retention belts
Short journeys- short attention spans
Learner should not have hand luggage
Rider should not carry any luggage
Near school, speeds should not exceed
5km/h
Rider to undergo advanced training

RECOMMENDATION CONTD
Schools with Transport Vehicles
Comprehensive insurance and regular service
Fitted with appropriate seats, seatbelts and
car restraints
Every vehicle must have an assistant on
board
Speed limit around the school be 5km/h
Parents should give consent in writing before
point to point trip
Keep a register when parents pick their
children

MAIN SAFETY ISSUES

Driver
Initial and periodic assessments
Medical fitness
Drive for limited periods
Accompanied by an escort
Not handle mobile phone, even if its
hands free
Receive practical driver training

MAIN SAFETY ISSUES CONTD

Vehicle Condition
Should have child restraints besides seat
belts
Seat belts should be of three point
system
Installed with GIS tracking device
Name address and phone number of
service provider or of the school

MAIN SAFETY ISSUES CONTD

Environmental Conditions
Supervisors/assistants while crossing
the road
Adequate bicycle parking (1 for every
3 learners)
County Govts must vet and approve
new school sites
Split campuses should be avoided
Site locations for schools connectivity
to surrounding residential catchment.

Some of the safety Guidelines proposed by the author of the study

(WHO, 2013)

REFERENCES

REFERENCES CONTD

THE END