The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has announced an eye-screening programme for drivers as part of efforts to reduce road accidents countrywide.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

In a presser on Friday, October 9, the Authority said eye failure played a bigger part in human error, which it said accounts for an estimated 20 to 30 per cent of crashes in Kenya.

NTSA said eyesight plays a critical role in road safety, noting that drivers rely on their vision to make decisions, identify pedestrians, spot motorcycles and respond to other motorists.

“We realised that 90 per cent of the decisions that are made by drivers are mostly judgment from the eyes. The eyes are the ones which help to see and make judgments,” an NTSA officer said.

📌 What You Need to Know

The officer added that the Authority would monitor drivers and ask them whether they had undergone the ongoing checks as part of measures to improve road safety.

“According to our statistics, 20 per cent to 30 per cent of road crashes are caused by human error. We are also on the roads to ensure safety. We will be monitoring and asking drivers if they have gone through the checks,” the officer added.

The announcement comes amid growing concerns over road accidents across the country, with more than 40 people reportedly feared dead in separate crashes over the past seven days.

According to NTSA data, about 9,002 people died in road accidents between January and September 2026, showing the extent of the road safety challenge facing the country.

The eye-screening initiative comes as NTSA continues nationwide training targeting more than 4,000 Public Service Vehicle (PSV) drivers, Sacco managers, supervisors and operators.

For the past three weeks, the Authority has been conducting the training as part of efforts to professionalise Kenya’s public transport sector and improve compliance with road safety regulations.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke