By Paul Karuga Njuguna-Executive Director, Road Safety Awareness Initiative @RSAIKenya
Road safety in Kenya remains a growing concern, with rising crash rates, increasing claims, and devastating social and economic consequences. As critical stakeholders in the transport ecosystem, insurance companies are uniquely positioned to influence safer driving behaviour, improve policy compliance, and support regulatory enforcement.
This article proposes a series of actionable strategies that insurers, in collaboration with government multi agencies, can spearhead to enhance road safety and reduce losses.
1. Driving Licence Points System & Shared Insurance Database
One of the most effective global road safety measures is a driving licence demerit point system a mechanism where drivers accumulate or lose points based on violations. Kenya had previously proposed such a system, but it was never fully implemented.
We propose its urgent revival and integration with a centralized insurance-driver database managed jointly by NTSA and insurers. The system would:
- Deduct points from drivers after verified violations such as overspeeding, drunk driving, or reckless overtaking.
- Share violation data with insurance companies via a real-time shared database.
- Allow insurers to increase premiums, blacklist habitual offenders, or decline renewals for extremely high-risk drivers.
- Incentivize safe driving by rewarding drivers who maintain full points with No-Claim Bonuses and discounted premiums.
- This integrated approach will deter dangerous driving, reduce fraudulent claims, and ultimately make Kenyan roads safer due to the painful consequences of repeated violations.
2. Centralized Insurance-Driver Database
Insurance policies should be linked directly to verified drivers, ensuring traceability and accountability. This system should allow NTSA, insurers, and police to:
- Curb unauthorized drivers and “kamageras” (illegal taxi operators).
- Prevent misuse of insured vehicles by unqualified individuals.
- Flag high risk drivers based on historical claims and violations.
3. Reintroduction of the No-Claim Bonus (NCB) System
A proven incentive for safe driving, the No Claim Bonus should be reinstated and integrated with the shared database. Benefits include:
- Premium discounts for drivers with zero-accident records.
- A centralized claims registry to flag drivers at fault, ensuring repeat offenders face higher premiums.
- Improved underwriting accuracy for insurers through risk-based pricing.
4. Permanent Deregistration of Written-Off Vehicles
To enhance safety and reduce fraudulent claims, NTSA should permanently deregister vehicles declared total write-offs with the help with the police who are on the ground. Insurers should ensure these vehicles:
- Are barred from being rebuilt and illegally reintroduced to roads.
- Are automatically flagged in the insurance database to prevent coverage manipulation.
- Are traceable during third-party claims to eliminate loopholes.
5. Enforcing Bus Fabrication & Safety Standards
Most Kenyan buses are fabricated using truck chassis lacking proper safety systems. Insurance companies should lobby for the strict enforcement of KEBS KS372 safety standards, which mandate:
- Proper rollover protection structures.
- Emergency escape hatches and safety tools like window-breaking hammers.
- Use of dedicated bus chassis with certified crash-tested safety designs.
This would drastically reduce fatalities in mass casualty crashes while lowering insurer liabilities.
6. Monitoring and Deterring Illegal Street Racing
Illegal street racing involving cars and motorbikes is on the rise. Insurers can support enforcement by:
- Funding teams to monitor and document unsanctioned races.
- Penalizing offenders through policy cancellations or premium hikes.
- Advocating for recognition of only Motorsport Kenya sanctioned events.
7. Driving School Reform & Graduated Licensing
Many Kenya’s driving schools currently offer only 25 lessons, with only a few like AA Kenya offering more and even an additional basic mechanics course for new drivers. These 25 lessons offered by some schools are insufficient for developing competent drivers. We propose:
- Extending lessons to at least 45 sessions and integrating simulated hazard training.
- Introducing a Graduated Licensing System where new drivers display probationary “P” stickers.
- Establishing a one-year post-licensing monitoring period to track behaviour.
8. Integration with the Digital OB System
As the government rolls out the digital Occurrence Book (OB) system, insurers should be fully integrated to:
- Receive real time accident alerts involving their policyholders.
- Access crash reports early to prevent fraudulent claims.
- Flag uninsured or unauthorized drivers for regulatory follow-up.
9. Regular Medical Screening for Commercial Drivers
Our medical outreach has revealed widespread vision impairment among drivers, especially men aged 40+ in the matatu and trucking sectors. We recommend:
- Annual mandatory eye and health checks for PSV and long-haul drivers.
- Linking medical fitness certification to licence renewals and insurance underwriting.
10. Accelerating the National Road Safety Action Plan (2024–2028)
We urge full and timely implementation of Kenya’s Road Safety Action Plan by:
- Operationalizing the Kenya Transport Accident Investigation Bureau (KTAIB) to investigate systemic causes of crashes.
- Identifying risk patterns like unsafe road designs, poor vehicle maintenance, and substandard spare parts.
- Enhancing insurers’ ability to detect fraud and influence safer transportation policies.
11. Promotion of Dashcams & Telematics
To encourage safer driving and aid claims investigations, insurers should:
- Incentivize installation of dashcams and telematics devices with premium discounts.
- Use telematics data to reward good driving and penalize reckless behaviour.
- Collaborate with authorities to track dangerous drivers captured on social media platforms.
12. Regulation of E-Bikes & E-Scooters
With the rapid rise of e-bikes and e-scooters in urban areas, Kenya urgently needs a regulatory framework to address:
- Speeds exceeding 70 km/h without proper licensing or insurance.
- Lack of safety standards for users and pedestrians.
- Integration into traffic laws, mandatory registration, and insurance coverage.
13. Additional Recommendations
- Enforce periodic vehicle inspections, particularly for high-risk and commercial vehicles.
- Integrate road safety education into schools, workplaces, and insurance customer engagement.
- Partner with NTSA, police, and media on joint awareness campaigns.
- Introduce AI-based traffic monitoring to detect violations and share real-time updates with insurers.
Conclusion
Insurance companies are not just passive players in the road safety ecosystem and they are strategic enablers with the power to influence behaviour, enhance enforcement, and save lives.
By pushing for the revival of the Driving Licence Points System, integrating shared insurance databases, and leveraging technology driven solutions, insurers can transform road safety outcomes in Kenya. Through collaboration with NTSA, KEBS, law enforcement, and policymakers, the industry can play a pivotal role in reducing crashes, lowering claims, and creating safer roads for all Kenyans.