Helmet use among boda boda passengers low

Boda boda cyclists should each wear a helmet and a reflector jacket to be visible to other motorists even at night. PHOTO BY ANDREW BAGALA

The failure of boda-boda cyclists to have an extra helmet has a direct impact on the passengers’ behaviour on helmet use, a new study has shown. According to a baseline study by the Global Helmet Vaccine Initiative titled Helmet use among commercial motorcyclists in Kampala and Mbale districts: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of motorcycle-related injuries, the use of helmets among passengers is as low as 18 per cent for Kampala and 11 per cent in Mbale.

“Almost all passengers were not using helmets because the cyclists do not have helmets for their passengers,” the study carried out between February and March, 2011 indicates.
The study showed that 96 per cent of the riders in Mbale did not have helmets for their passengers while in Kampala only 21 per cent riders had helmets for passengers.

A total of 7,488 boda boda cyclists in Kampala District, and 6,792 in Mbale District were observed for helmet use in the study. Of these, 628 riders while 666 passengers were interviewed in Kampala while 300 riders and 299 passengers were interviewed about helmet use in Mbale District.

The Global Helmet Vaccine Initiative (GHVI) regional Manager-Africa, Ms Barbara Mwanje, said the study will help them in behavioural change and sensitisation.
GHVI is funded by Asia Injury Prevention Foundation together with the Federation International Automobile Foundation and World Bank Global Road Safety Facility.
The aim is to reduce head injuries in road accidents among motorcyclists.

Although the traffic law requires a rider and passenger to wear helmets, its implementation has been hindered by politicians. Fatalities caused by boda boda cyclists increased from 388 deaths in 2009 to 512 (17 per cent) in 2010, which is attributed to indiscipline, including failure to wear helmets, and drug addiction.

Head injuries are the top cause of deaths. During the period of the GHVI study in Mulago Hospital, findings indicated that 41 per cent of 231 patients with road traffic-related injuries were involved in boda boda accidents.

Nearly the same figures were reported in Mbale Hospital. Interestingly, 15 per cent of the injured wore helmets when the accident occurred.

Given the fact that the increase in motorcycle accidents and deaths in the face of string of laws, the government is carrying out a scientific research to evaluate the existing policies and laws.