As schools reopen, NTSA has issued a strong warning to all schools and school transport providers to ensure their vehicles are in top shape. This comes after a series of spot checks revealed several safety concerns in school vehicles.
In a notice issued on August 15, 2025, NTSA emphasized the need for all school transport vehicles to meet strict safety standards to ensure school children are safe.
NTSA Inspections Findings
During the recent inspections, NTSA officials found several issues in school vehicles. Some of the most worrying findings are:
- Speed Limiters Missing or Faulty: Several vehicles were found to have no speed limiters or faulty ones. In some cases, the speed limiters were not sending data to NTSA’s road safety system which is crucial for monitoring and controlling vehicle speeds.
- Interior Safety Concerns: Many school vehicles had damaged or broken interior parts including torn seats, shaky cushions, broken door locks and missing or faulty seat belts all of which compromise passenger safety.
- Poor Vehicle Condition: Externally some vehicles were found to have rusted chassis, damaged bodies and worn out mechanical parts such as faulty steering and suspension systems. These defects increase the risk of accidents.
- Non-Compliance with Safety Standards: Some vehicles did not meet the KS 372:2019 safety standard which specifies the requirements for safety and passenger comfort. Issues included poor seat anchoring, lack of anti-roll bars and missing identification plates.
What Schools and Transport Providers Need to Do
NTSA has reminded all school transport operators that vehicles must be built by approved manufacturers and undergo thorough checks by certified inspectors. To help, the authority has listed approved manufacturers and inspectors on their website.
Schools should also ensure no unroadworthy vehicles are used to transport students or staff. Teachers and schoolchildren must come first.
Public Service Vehicles Under the SpotlightBesides the school transport directive, NTSA also noted that over 315,000 public service and commercial vehicles are operating without valid motor vehicle inspection certificates. The affected vehicles weighing 3,049kg and above have been flagged and their owners have been told to take immediate action to rectify the situation.
To make it easier, law enforcement officers have been directed to use NTSA’s free mobile app to check the status of vehicle inspection certificates so that non-compliant vehicles can be flagged for further action.
