Factors influencing safety of motorcycle riders in Kenya a case of Runyenjes municipality

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.