Kenya NTSA PSV Bus Test cheat sheet

The Traffic Act (Cap 403) is the primary statute; NTSA enforces it under the NTSA Act 2012. Offences carry fines, demerit points, or licence suspension.

Driving licence classes: Class A motorcycles, B light vehicles up to 3,500 kg, C heavy goods, D PSV (public service vehicles), E articulated/heavy combinations. A PSV bus driver needs the class matching the vehicle's gross weight plus a PSV badge.

The PSV badge (driver's conduct certificate) is issued after a medical, criminal record check, and a PSV-specific test; it must be carried and produced on demand to a police officer or NTSA inspector.

Duty to stop and give particulars after a crash involving injury, death, or damage: stop, render assistance, report to the nearest police station within 24 hours, and do not move the vehicle unless it is a hazard.

Speed limits: 50 km/h in built-up areas unless signed otherwise, 80 km/h on rural roads, 100 km/h on highways for private cars; PSV buses are capped lower (commonly 80 km/h) and school buses 50 km/h.

Demerit points accumulate for offences (e.g., speeding, reckless driving); reaching the threshold triggers suspension. Drink-driving limit for PSV drivers is effectively zero tolerance.

Carrying passengers beyond the licensed seating/standing capacity, or carrying goods that endanger passengers, is an offence under the Act and a ground for PSV licence revocation.

A driver must hold a valid licence for the class, a valid medical certificate, and a valid insurance certificate (third-party minimum) covering the vehicle at the time of driving.

PSV operations require a valid PSV licence for the vehicle, a road service licence (route permit) where applicable, and compliance with the operator's licence conditions.

Buses must display the PSV licence disc, insurance certificate, and inspection (roadworthiness) certificate; these are checked at roadside and during NTSA inspections.

Passenger manifest rules: operators of long-distance and school buses must keep a passenger list; it aids crash response and is required by regulation for certain services.

Seat belts must be worn by driver and all passengers where fitted; the driver is responsible for ensuring passengers are belted before departure.

Standing passengers are only permitted where the vehicle is licensed to carry them and only within the marked standing area; never on stairwells, aisles blocking exits, or the roof.

Overloading beyond licensed capacity is prohibited; the licensed capacity is shown on the PSV licence and compliance certificate, not just the vehicle's physical seats.

Night operations require functioning interior lighting, exterior marker lights, and reflective markings; the bus must be visible and passengers must be able to move safely.

Fare and route rules: charging above the gazetted fare, touting, and deviating from the licensed route are PSV offences enforceable by NTSA and the police.

Sign shapes carry meaning: triangles = warning, circles = prohibitory/regulatory (red ring = prohibition, blue = mandatory), rectangles = information, octagon = STOP.

Red traffic light means stop before the stop line; amber means stop unless it is unsafe to do so; green means proceed only if the junction is clear.

A flashing amber at a pelican/pedestrian crossing means give way to pedestrians on the crossing; a flashing red beacon means stop and proceed only when safe.

Solid white centre line = no overtaking; broken white line = overtaking permitted when safe; double solid lines = neither direction may cross.

Yellow box junction: do not enter unless your exit is clear; you may wait in it only when turning right and blocked by oncoming traffic.

Zebra crossing: pedestrians have priority once on the crossing; approach at a speed allowing a stop, and never overtake a vehicle stopped at a crossing.

Chevron (hatched) markings and solid edge lines mark areas you must not enter; rumble strips and transverse lines warn of a hazard ahead (junction, bend, or toll).

Temporary signs (yellow background, black symbols) override permanent signs; obey them especially at roadworks and diversions.

Daily walk-around: tyres (tread depth, pressure, cuts, bulges, wheel nuts), lights and indicators, mirrors, wipers, windscreen, body panels, and under-vehicle leaks.

Tyre rule: minimum tread depth 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters; no cuts exposing cords; dual tyres must be matched in size and inflation to avoid overload and heat.

Fluids: engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, power-steering fluid, windscreen washer; check for leaks under the bus before moving off.

Brake check: air-brake system must build pressure and hold; listen for air leaks, test the low-pressure warning, and confirm the parking brake holds on a slope.

Emergency equipment must be present and serviceable: fire extinguisher (in date, charged), first-aid kit, warning triangle, wheel chocks, jack and wheel brace, and emergency exits opening freely.

Interior checks: seats secure, handrails intact, emergency exit hammers present, doors open/close smoothly, interior lights work, and no loose objects in the aisle.

Documentation check before departure: PSV licence, insurance, inspection certificate, driver's licence and PSV badge, route permit, and passenger manifest where required.

Defect reporting: any defect affecting safety (brakes, steering, tyres, lights) means the bus must not depart; record it in the defect log and report to the operator.

A bus has a long wheelbase and large rear overhang: the rear wheels cut inside the front wheels on turns (off-tracking), so swing wide and watch the tail on tight corners.

Stopping distance = thinking distance + braking distance; a loaded bus at 80 km/h needs far more than a car, and wet roads can double braking distance.

Use engine braking and progressive braking; avoid harsh braking on wet or gravel surfaces, which can cause jack-knifing or loss of control.

Reversing: use mirrors and a banksman (spotter); if you cannot see the spotter, stop. Never reverse with passengers standing in the aisle.

Cornering: slow in, accelerate gently out; a high centre of gravity means excessive speed in a bend risks a rollover - rollovers are the deadliest bus crash type.

Following distance: use the 4-second rule in good conditions and more in rain, fog, or at night; a heavy bus cannot stop like a car.

On steep descents select a low gear and use engine braking; do not ride the brakes, which can fade or overheat.

Overtaking: ensure clear sight lines, check mirrors and blind spots, signal, and only overtake where permitted; a bus needs a long gap to complete the manoeuvre.

Loading rule: never exceed licensed seating/standing capacity; distribute passengers and luggage so the bus is balanced and within axle weight limits.

Luggage must be secured in the boot/rack; nothing may block aisles, doors, or emergency exits, and roof loads must be within the manufacturer's limit.

Before moving off, confirm all doors are closed, passengers seated or holding handrails, and seat belts fastened where fitted; give a clear departure announcement.

Emergency exits (doors, roof hatches, windows with hammers) must be clearly marked and unobstructed; brief passengers on their location on long-distance services.

Fire procedure: stop safely, switch off engine, evacuate passengers away from the vehicle and upwind, use the extinguisher only if safe, and call emergency services.

Medical emergency: stop in a safe place, call for help, give first aid within your training, and do not move a casualty with suspected spinal injury unless in danger.

Evacuation order: children and vulnerable passengers first, then others; assemble at a safe distance and account for passengers against the manifest.

After any incident, secure the scene, warn other traffic with the triangle, do not move the injured unless necessary, and cooperate with police and NTSA.

Scan far ahead (12–15 seconds) and check mirrors every 5–8 seconds; a bus driver must anticipate hazards earlier because stopping takes longer.

Defensive driving: assume other road users will make mistakes; keep a space cushion around the bus and have an escape route planned.

Common hazards: pedestrians and boda-bodas at the roadside, livestock, potholes, unmarked speed humps, and stopped matatus; slow and cover the brake near them.

Fatigue signs: yawning, heavy eyes, drifting, missing signs, and micro-sleeps. The only cure is to stop and rest; caffeine and loud music are not substitutes.

Regulated driving hours: take a break at least every 4 hours and do not exceed the daily driving limit; keep a record of hours and rest periods.

Night driving: reduce speed, use dipped beams when following or meeting traffic, watch for unlit pedestrians and animals, and be extra alert during the early hours when fatigue peaks.

Weather: in rain or fog, increase following distance, switch on lights, avoid sudden braking, and be ready for flooded sections and reduced visibility.

Alcohol and drugs: zero tolerance for PSV drivers; impairment, even below a limit, is a hazard and grounds for licence action.

DRABC: Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, Circulation - check for danger before approaching a casualty, then assess and act.

Recovery position for an unconscious but breathing casualty; do not move a suspected spinal injury unless there is immediate danger (fire, traffic).

Severe bleeding: apply direct pressure with a clean dressing, elevate if possible, and do not remove an embedded object - pad around it.

Burns: cool with clean running water for at least 10 minutes, do not burst blisters, and do not apply oils or ointments.

Fractures: immobilise the limb, support it, and do not attempt to straighten a deformed limb; treat for shock (keep warm, reassure, do not give food or drink).

Crash scene duties: stop, switch on hazard lights, place the warning triangle, call emergency services (999/112), give first aid within training, and give your particulars to police.

Do not move an injured person unless there is fire, risk of further collision, or the airway cannot be managed; keep the scene safe and preserve evidence.

Report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours and inform the operator; record details of other parties, witnesses, and the scene for insurance and investigation.

Conduct rules: be courteous, no touting, no smoking or phone use while driving, no overloading, and no dropping or picking passengers at unsafe points.

Documents to carry: valid driving licence (correct class), PSV badge, insurance certificate, inspection certificate, PSV licence, and route permit where applicable.

The operator must keep records of driver hours, medicals, vehicle inspections, defect reports, and maintenance; NTSA can inspect these records.

Licence and badge renewal: medical certificates and PSV badges have expiry dates; driving with an expired badge or certificate is an offence.

Insurance: third-party insurance is the legal minimum; passengers should be covered by PSV passenger liability - confirm the policy covers the licensed use.

Vehicle inspection: buses must pass the NTSA roadworthiness inspection at the prescribed intervals; a failed inspection means the bus cannot carry passengers until rectified.

Fitness to drive: report illness, medication, or fatigue to the operator; a driver who is unfit must not take the wheel, and the operator must provide a relief driver.

Complaints and enforcement: passengers can report conduct to NTSA; repeated offences can lead to licence suspension, fines, or revocation of the PSV licence.