According to the World Health Organization, the number of fatalities due to traffic accidents in Africa increased by 17% over the last 10 years, while global road traffic deaths decreased by 5%.
The report on Road Safety revealed that approximately 20% of all fatal traffic accidents worldwide took place in Africa. According to Nhan Tran, the leader of the World Health Organization’s safety and mobility unit and the main author of the report, one contributing factor to this rise in fatalities is the growing number of vehicles on African roads. He explained that individuals who were previously unable to purchase a vehicle now have the means to do so, leading to a significant increase in motorization in Africa. However, the necessary infrastructure to support this growth is lacking.
According to the World Health Organization, road accidents are the ninth leading cause of death in Africa.
According to specialists, the significant rise in motorbike usage is partially responsible for the increasing number of fatalities on roads. In Eastern Africa, motorbike taxis, known as boda bodas, piki pikis, or motos, have gained popularity as they fill the void in public transportation.
Gladys Nyachieo, a sociologist at the Multimedia University of Kenya who studies mobility, stated that approximately a decade ago, there was a significant rise in the number of motorcycles being brought into Kenya compared to cars. This led to a rapid escalation in accidents involving motorcycles, resulting in some hospitals creating specialized units for those injured in motorcycle accidents.
Tran stated that the reason motorbikes are riskier than cars is due to basic principles of physics. The driver of a motorbike is more vulnerable compared to a passenger in a car. In the event of a collision between a car and a motorbike, the impact can be comparable to that of hitting a pedestrian.
According to the Rwandan police, in the first half of 2023, the majority of road traffic accidents were caused by motorbikes and bicycles. These accidents resulted in 98 deaths and 46 serious injuries.
According to activists, numerous motorcyclists do not wear adequate helmets, which increases their chances of injury. Several nations, like Rwanda and Kenya, have laws that mandate the use of helmets for both drivers and passengers. While Rwanda has a high compliance rate of nearly 100%, only 40% of drivers in Kenya adhere to the law due to poor enforcement.
However, the rate of fatalities from road accidents in Rwanda remains significant. According to Innocent Nzeyimana, the director of Healthy People Rwanda, a non-profit organization promoting public health and road safety, helmets are mandatory but are not subject to any specific requirements. This is because the majority of helmets are imported from countries like India and China, and Rwanda lacks the resources to test them for compliance. Furthermore, drivers often continue to use damaged helmets even after being involved in an accident.
The organization discovered that certain drivers were utilizing helmets that had been repaired with staples, glue, or tape. “A helmet in this condition is just as ineffective as papier-mache,” Nzeyimana remarked.
The FIA Foundation, a charity focused on road safety, has pledged to launch a facility for testing helmets in Rwanda by 2024. Additionally, the charity Transaid expects the Kenyan government to make a similar commitment in the near future. Nyachieo stated that without a testing centre, it is not possible to implement or enforce helmet standards.
Helmets that are of low quality can be purchased for $3, but those with recognized safety certifications like DOT or ECE can be 10 times more expensive. This poses a significant financial burden for motorcycle taxi drivers in Kenya, who typically earn $6.25 per day.
Sandeep Radia, the representative of Boda Plus, a Kenyan company that produces reliable and safe helmets, expressed concerns about competing with inexpensive Indian helmets. Even though their least expensive helmet is priced at $4, just one dollar more than the Indian ones, boda boda drivers often question the need to spend that extra dollar.
Boda Plus was one of the first companies on the continent to manufacture helmets when it started two years ago. As well as in Kenya, its biggest customer bases are in Tanzania, Uganda and Congo.
According to Radia, our facilities are top-notch and our helmets are of high quality, however, we are facing difficulties. Customers may have difficulty differentiating our helmets from those that break upon impact with the ground.
According to Transaid’s Sam Clark, establishing a domestic manufacturing sector is the most ideal solution. They aim to decrease the use of weak imported helmets once a testing center is established. It is crucial for the Kenyan manufacturing industry to be prepared to meet the demand.
Elly Kegode is chairman of a boda drivers’ cooperative in Kibera, Nairobi, home to Kenya’s largest slum settlements. “I’ve seen many of my friends die; sometimes their children will come to my office asking for help,” he says. “It’s a sorrow we live with.”
After being hospitalized for several months due to a collision, Kegode established a cooperative. He admits, “I was not wearing a helmet at the time. I hope to prevent others from making the same mistake.”
Kegode’s cooperative, in partnership with Transaid, assists its drivers in purchasing Boda Plus helmets at a reduced cost. According to Kegode, the impact of this initiative has been significant, as evidenced by a recent incident where one of their drivers sustained minor injuries in a major accident, thanks to the helmet.
He expressed a desire for the government to take action in promoting our safety, whether it be by providing subsidized helmets or enforcing safety regulations.
Source: theguardian.com
