Factors Influencing Commercial Motorcycle Accidents In Kenya

Abstract

The acute shortage of formal employment has forced many Kenyans to venture into Boda boda business which has in turn caused many accidents. This study investigated factors influencing commercial motorcycle accidents in Bungoma south sub county. The objective of this study was to assess the extent to which environmental factors influence commercial motorcycle accidents in Bungoma South sub county, to evaluate how personal characteristics influence commercial motorcycle accidents in Bungoma South sub county, to investigate the extent to which ownership status influence commercial motorcycle accidents in Bungoma South sub county and to determine how riding skills influence commercial motorcycle accidents in Bungoma South sub county. A descriptive research design was used to allow researcher to gather information, summarize, present and interpret data for the purpose of clarification. The target population for this research was 1739 comprising of 1724 registered commercial motorcycles in the study region and 15 traffic police officers with a sample size of 313 determined from Krejcie and Morgan table. Proportional allocation was used to compute the exact number of subjects in each location which was a correct representation in each region. The received data was classified, summarized, coded, sorted and SPSS software was used. The findings were presented in form of tables and narrative forms. The study found out those legal factors does not affect motorcycle accidents while corruption and condition of road do influence. They found that overloading, over speeding and use of drugs influenced motorcycle accidents. On ownership of motorcycle most of the respondents agreed that company motorbike influenced commercial motorcycle accidents. On riding skills was that lack of driving license and experience influenced motorcycle accidents in Bungoma south sub county. The study recommended an inclusive transport policy which encompasses all transport stakeholders. Also designing of roads to take care of motorcycle operators including riders wearing helmets and reflector jackets, undergoing driving test and insuring motorcycles against risks and forming companies to the industry and thus it reduce motorcycle accidents in Bungoma sub-county the researcher recommended riders for refresher courses.