The government has unveiled a raft of new school transport measures aimed at improving the safety of learners following a series of fatal road crashes involving school buses.The new directives, announced by the ministries of Education and Sports and Works and Transport, seek to strengthen regulation of school transport through stricter vehicle inspections, specialised driver certification and enhanced enforcement as part of broader road safety reforms targeting speeding, overloading, driver fatigue and mechanically defective vehicles.The measures come amid growing concern over the rising number of crashes involving schoolchildren. In July, at least 20 pupils and an adult were killed when a bus belonging to King David Junior School was involved in a crash in Kapchorwa. Several other children were injured.The new resolutions were reached during a multi-stakeholder workshop organised by the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS) Uganda, in collaboration with the Ministry of Works and Transport, the Uganda Professional Drivers’ Network, the Traffic Police Directorate and other stakeholders.The meeting resolved to strengthen enforcement and promote shared responsibility among schools, transport operators, parents and government agencies. Ministry of Education and Sports spokesperson Denis Mugimba said the new measures are intended to reinforce the Basic Requirements and Minimum Standards for Educational Institutions by prioritising learner safety.Among the immediate requirements is that all vehicles transporting learners must possess a valid Private Motor Omnibus (PMO) licence and Inspection of Vehicles (IOV) certification.School vehicles must also be roadworthy, while drivers are required to hold valid driving permits corresponding to the class of vehicle they operate. Mugimba also announced the immediate suspension of school study tours and educational trips.“Among the immediate measures announced is the suspension of school study trips and tours until further notice, while the government undertakes broader consultations and develops long-term interventions to prevent the recurrence of incidents involving learners,” he said.The commissioner for transport regulation and safety and chief licensing officer of motor vehicles at the ministry of Works and Transport, Winstone Katushabe, attributed the increasing number of fatal crashes to unroadworthy vehicles, overcrowding and inadequate safety standards.“Safer school transport can no longer wait. Every child deserves a safe journey to and from school. School transport should be a bridge to education, not a daily risk for learners,” Katushabe said.He stressed that improving school transport safety would require collective action from schools, parents, transport operators, drivers and enforcement agencies.Uganda records more than 25,000 road crashes annually, resulting in about 25,800 casualties and between 5,000 and 6,000 deaths, equivalent to roughly 14 fatalities every day.Katushabe said drivers transporting learners should be subjected to higher professional standards than ordinary motorists.“School transport drivers should undergo specialised certification, defensive driving training and regular background checks before being entrusted with learners’ lives,” he said.He identified speeding, reckless overtaking, distracted driving and unqualified drivers as some of the leading threats to the safety of schoolchildren. The government also plans to expand the use of technology to improve compliance with road traffic regulations.“Smart enforcement using speed cameras and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology will help identify traffic offenders and improve compliance around school transport,” Katushabe said.He further called for improved infrastructure around schools, including designated pick-up and drop-off bays, pedestrian crossings and speed humps, alongside strict enforcement of the 30km/h speed limit in school zones and other high-risk areas.Traffic Police spokesperson Michael KananuraTraffic Police spokesperson Michael Kananura said police would intensify enforcement operations targeting school transport, with greater emphasis on route compliance and the deployment of smart transport technologies.He said the Traffic Police Directorate would continue working with other stakeholders to improve compliance with road safety regulations.Steven Turyarugayo, public relations consultant for the ITMS project, said the Express Penalty System (EPS) would play a key role in improving road discipline.“Through our AI-powered technology, EPS can support improved vehicle identification, monitoring and enforcement while providing relevant authorities with better tools to promote compliance and accountability. We therefore believe that the Express Penalty System is what will bring about behavioural change on our roads for the safety of school-going children,” Turyarugayo said.The post Uganda tightens school transport rules as crashes involving learners rise appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.