cover story be licensed for the training done, making it easy and cheaper,” she said.
To prepare tutors on the expected training changes, NTSA has enrolled all driving school instructors at government training facilities in a bid to prepare for the curriculum roll out. The instructors will use Kenya learner’ s handbook for light and professional drivers, truck drivers, motorcycle riders and Highway Code as the main learning reference material.
The new curriculum is also tailored to shape trainees communication skills and attitude, customer care and soft skills for PSV and commercial drivers training. It will also impart trainees with skills to handle accidents.
In addition to imparting driving skills and teaching traffic laws, the syllabus incorporates basic mechanic in training. Drivers will be able to check the safety of a vehicle and conduct self-vehicle inspection.
“ The training will equip trainees with emergency handling procedures such as explaining to passengers safety, how to respond to vehicle fires, handling spillage as well as equip drivers with first aid skills,” NTSA’ s registration and licensing director explained.
Apart from the formalized drivers training, the new curriculum will also focus on driving evaluation and competence testing before getting a license, Ms. Githinji asserted this by saying that the current driving license test is a superficial exercise with most motor vehicle driving test inspectors sparing less than five minutes for each candidate.
“ Unlike in the past where police were involved in testing drivers, the new test examiners are going to be NTSA officers. Only those who genuinely pass will be licensed to be drivers,” the director said in an interview with Safari Njema Magazine in her Nairobi office.
Ms. Githinji also said that NTSA has made a number of recommendations to driving schools concerning the expected changes. The schools will be required to have a yard, either hired or purchased, for practical training. The schools will also be required to have simulators for training on night driving and under adverse conditions. All schools will also be required to renew operating license annually subject to inspection by NTSA for compliance.
“ The current system offered in schools is not only inadequate, but also antiquated. For example, practical driving learning space is an issue as some of the existing driving schools have no space to conduct the practical lessons. Maneuver yard test is now a mandatory requirement for driving schools. This will help trainee drivers learn how to maneuver under different set of conditions before venturing into a road test,” Ms. Githinji said.
The new curriculum will emphasize on importance of road signs.
“ Intended purpose of this new curriculum is to have safe and reliable drivers straight from driving school,” she said.
The common traffic violations among drivers on Kenya roads include sudden change of lanes, refusing to give way at intersections and speeding.
NTSA hopes to eliminate recklessness on the road with the new curriculum. The safety authority will first train new drivers using the curriculum.
“ Already licensed drivers will lose license after violating traffic laws. The drivers will be allowed back on the road after training under the new curriculum. Only those trained under the curriculum will get a smart driving license,” the director said.
The new curriculum also stipulates age limits and minimum driving experience for admission in each category and class of driving. Drivers above 70 years will have to submit a medical report to the agency every year to ascertain their medical fitness. The new curriculum makes it mandatory for all drivers to go back to driving schools for a full course after every 10 years.
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