Bodabodas account for 9,996 accidents in 17 months – report

Motorcycles also known as boda boda have become the go-to mode of transport for Kenyans to beat traffic due to their availability.

Data from the National Police Service reveal that in 17 months, 9,996 people were directly affected by motorcycle crashes.

This is for the period between May 2022 to October 2023.

Out of the 9,996,  a total of 2,384 were fatalities and 5,581 serious injuries 

The report titled "Fare Price; An Investigation into the Health Costs of Motorcycle Taxi Crashes in Kenya" was compiled by the National Helmet Wearing Coalition alongside the Motorcycle Initiative, Transaid, and UK-based FiA Foundation. 

The report also states that 2,031 escaped with minor injuries.

"Based on this data, the most likely outcome for motorcycle users hurt in a crash is to incur a serious injury (56 percent ), the second most likely outcome being death (24 percent)," reads the report.

"However, it may be the case that slight injuries are less likely to involve the police and not need hospital treatment." 

Health Outcomes

The report also sought to look into the health costs of bodaboda accidents.

The report sought to investigate the health costs of boda boda crashes and also to understand helmet usage levels amongst operators and pillion passengers.

During the period under review, 249 victims sustained head injuries with each spending close to Sh3 million on treatment while those who sustained limb injuries were 149 with each spending close to Sh1.6 million.

Survivors who had multiple injuries were 128 with each spending up to Sh1 million on medical expenses.

Twenty-five of the victims who sustained abdominal injuries each spent Sh320,740 on medical costs while seven suffered thoracic injury, each of them spending Sh109,475 on hospital bills.

This is according to data obtained from hospitals.

Wearing helmets

The report indicated that nearly two-thirds of bodaboda operators (63 per cent)were observed wearing helmets while riding.

Helmet prevalence varied between locations, with the case study being Nairobi roads.

Mombasa and Kangundo roads were mentioned as the most dangerous roads in Nairobi for motorcyclists.

Also mentioned were Thika Super Highway, Jogoo, and Outer Ring roads.

OuterRing Road was mentioned as having the lowest rates of helmet usage by operators at 56.5 percent while Thika Road had the highest helmet usage by motorcycle riders at 70.5 per cent.

The report revealed that there were several likely explanations for variations in helmet prevalence according to location, not least the fact that the Traffic Police Head Quarters is located on Thika Road.

"Observations revealed that the location of the TrafficPolice HQ inevitably led to more frequent episodes of surveillance carried out by police, leading to higher helmet usage levels by operators than in other locations," reads the report.

Helmet usage among pillion passengers was significantly lower than among operators with only 15 per cent of the 1,385 passengers observed wearing a helmet while on a motorcycle.

As stated in the report, Thika Road had the lowest rate of helmet usage at 9.2 per cent while Mombasa Road had the highest helmet usage amongst passengers.

“Most of the pillion passengers do not use helmets as they say the helmets are dirty. Many of the ladies do not wear helmets due to health reasons they say, and riders do not offer any helmets. Most of the riders have only one helmet on their motorbikes," reads the report.

Intensify enforcement

In addition, the report urged law enforcement agencies to act to ensure riders adhere to traffic rules.

Also, members of the public were urged to change their attitudes towards the wearing of protective gear.

“Enforcement is a recurrent influencing factor regarding whether or not a motorcycle user decides to wear a helmet, indicating that more vigorous enforcement would lead to an increase in helmet prevalence," reads the report.