Motor-cycle Crashes and Socio-economic and Demographic Characteristics of Riders. A Case Study of South Imenti Sub County, Meru County

Abstract

This study acknowledges the rise in the usage of commercial motorbikes as a transportation mode in Kenya. The increase is attributable to among other factors, transport system inability to satisfy Kenyans transport needs and the fairly low cost of purchasing motorcycles. The drawbacks to this new development is that the industry is increasingly linked to traffic crashes, posing serious health and safety risks to the public. It is from this knowledge that this study draws. The general objective of the research was to investigate the association between motorcycle riders' socioeconomic and demographic attributes and the occurrence of motorcycle crashes in South Imenti Subcounty. The study incorporated a descriptive approach with a stratified random sampling method where the main data was collected from 86 boda boda riders in the identified 29 rider groups. Closed and open-ended questionnaires, observation, and interview guides for Key Informant Interviews were used to gather information from the respondents. The information gathered was coded, and with the use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) application, organized and interpreted to deliver meaningful information. Qualitative information gathered from Key Informant Interviews were grouped into themes and analyzed based on the study objectives to inform the overall findings. Descriptive analysis was also applied, which comprised of frequencies and percentages. The study reveals that a number of socio-economic and demographic attributes of riders have a mutual relationship with the occurrence of crashes. The findings also show the absence of formal rider training and knowledge of motorcycle safety measures which contributes to the crashes by commercial motorcycle riders in Imenti South Sub County. In summary, the research concludes that age, marital status, the income of rider, formal rider training and knowledge of motorcycle safety measures influence rider crashes. However, the study did not find any linkage between the sex of the rider and the occurrence of rider crashes because the sample was mainly male and therefore not significant for comparison. Education level and motorcycle ownership were mutually linked with rider crashes demonstrating that lower education level compromises the safety while the riders that own motorcycles had lower crashes. Recommendations include the integration of formal rider training at subsidized fees. Stringent measures on riders who do not comply to road traffic rules and regulations and the creation of awareness for riders on the importance of using safety gear such as helmets as well as risks of over speeding and overloading.