The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has launched an eye-screening initiative for motorists as it steps up efforts to improve road safety and address factors contributing to accidents in Kenya.
In a press briefing on Friday, October 9, 2026, an NTSA said the Authority would monitor drivers on the roads and ask whether they had undergone the ongoing eye checks.
The initiative comes as the Authority seeks to address human error, which it estimates accounts for between 20 and 30 per cent of road crashes in the country.
NTSA said eyesight was central to the decisions drivers make while on the road, including identifying hazards and judging distances.
NTSA Launches Eye-Screening Exercise for Kenyan Drivers
The Authority added that the checks are part of wider measures to improve road safety and reduce crashes linked to human error.
“We realized that 90 per cent of the decisions that drivers make are mostly judgment from the eyes. The eyes are the ones which help to see and make judgments,” NTSA officer said.
“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.
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NTSA to Monitor Motorists
The Authority said its officers would ask drivers whether they had undergone the eye-screening checks as part of efforts to improve compliance with the initiative.
The programme focuses on eyesight, which plays an important role in a driver’s ability to identify road signs, spot pedestrians, assess distances and respond to changing traffic conditions.
Vision problems can affect a motorist’s ability to recognize hazards in time, particularly when driving at night or in poor weather.
Screening will help identify such problems and allow drivers to seek further assessment or corrective treatment where necessary.
NTSA’s move comes amid continued efforts to improve safety on Kenyan roads, where crashes remain a concern for motorists, passengers and pedestrians.
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.
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World Sight Day Outreach Takes Eye Screening to Drivers
The announcement comes a day after public service vehicle drivers in Nairobi received eye screening, treatment and refraction services during World Sight Day commemorations held under the theme “Love Your Eyes.”
The exercise was organised by the Kenya Association of Opticians in partnership with the Optometrists Association of Kenya, the Ministry of Health, Nairobi government and other partners as part of World Sight Day activities.
Nairobi County Chief Officer for Public Health Tom Nyakaba said they targeted drivers because poor vision can contribute to road crashes and injuries.
“Data has shown us that with poor efficiency, drivers cause a lot of accidents and they impact majorly to public health,” Nyakaba said.
He said the screening covered matatu, long-distance bus, and lorry drivers, with those found to have eye problems receiving appropriate support, including referrals for spectacles where necessary.
“Without clear vision, the drivers are susceptible to accidents and such like injuries to our public,” he said.
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