| dc.description.abstract | Motorcycles have become an indispensable part of many peoples’ means of transport in the
world. In the past, motorcycles played a major role in the traffic in developing world.
Motorcycles in African countries especially those playing the trade popularly known as 'boda
boda' in Kenya, have become an important feature in the transport sector, whereby most
people, young and old are involved in motorcycle riding as a means of transport and business
as well. Therefore this study had aimed at exploring the factors influencing the safety of the
motorcycle riders in Runyenjes municipality. The objectives of the study were: To assess
how motorcycle riding training skills influence safety of the riders in Runyenjes municipality,
to determine how motorcycle riding experiences influenced safety of the riders in Runyenjes
municipality, to establish the extent to which implementation of traffic laws influence safety
of the riders in Runyenjes municipality, and to establish how nature of roads influence safety
of the riders in Runyenjes municipality. The findings of this study are of significance to
motorcycle manufacturing firms in relation to protective gear, traffic police to enforce traffic
laws, and safeguarding the safety of the riders among others. The study had employed a
survey design in data collection process from motorcycles riders, traffic police officers, and
medical personnel in Runyenjes municipality and was analyzed by use of frequency counts
and percentages. The researcher used scientific package for social sciences (SPSS) tools:
statistical analysis, thematic analysis, text analysis in accordance to the demands of this
study.
This study had revealed that the safety of motorcycle riders was influenced by factors such as
riding training skills, riding experiences, implementation of traffic laws, and the nature of
roads. The findings had also revealed that there were numerous and frequent road accidents
due to poor training skills and lack of riding experience of motorcycle riders. Further to that
the study had revealed that un-implementation of laws by traffic police officers was highly
resisted by riders who from time to time complained of harassment by police officers. The
nature of roads had also contributed to unsafe conditions of the riders because access roads
were not regularly maintained due to complexity of funds disbursement from the central
government to the local authorities. Those findings had warranted the researcher to make the
following recommendations:-
1. That the government should come up with programmes to have motorcycle riders
trained at a minimal cost.
That the motorcycle transport customers should be sensitized on the care of the safety
and to be provided with protective gears whenever riding a motorcycle.
3. That, a rule should be introduced through an act of parliament for all boda boda
motorcycles to be installed with speed governors. | en_US |
