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Updated: Dec 27, 2025
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A Test Bed to Examine Helmet Fit and Retention and Biomechanical Measures of Head and Neck Injury in Simulated Impact
Published on: September 21, 2017
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Road traffic crash experience among commercial motorcyclists in Kigali, Rwanda
Joao Ricardo Nickenig Vissoci1,2, Elizabeth Krebs1,2,3, Brian Meier1,2
1Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Summary
Commercial motorcyclists in Rwanda show good safety practices like helmet use. However, they remain a high-risk group for road traffic injuries, indicating ongoing safety challenges.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Transportation Safety
Background:
- Road traffic injuries (RTI) are a major global health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
- Motorcycle taxis are a common transport mode in many African cities, yet driver behaviors and injury risks are understudied in Rwanda.
- Existing road safety policies aim to reduce RTI, but their impact on motorcyclist behavior needs evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the safety behaviors of commercial motorcyclists in Kigali, Rwanda.
- To investigate the relationship between driver behaviors and the occurrence of road traffic injuries.
- To assess the effectiveness of safety policies on motorcyclist behavior.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey of 609 commercial motorcyclists in Kigali, Rwanda, conducted in January 2014.
- Descriptive statistics were used to summarize safety behaviors and injury experiences.
- Bivariate logistic regression analyses examined associations between crash history and safety beliefs.
Main Results:
- 38.7% of surveyed motorcyclists reported a lifetime crash, with over half sustaining injuries.
- Helmet usage (100%), chin strap use (99%), and passenger helmet availability (98.8%) were high.
- Beliefs about helmet and chin strap effectiveness were associated with reduced crash risk (p=0.08 and p=0.05, respectively).
Conclusions:
- Rwandan commercial motorcyclists exhibit generally positive safety behaviors, particularly regarding helmet use.
- Despite high adherence to safety measures, motorcyclists remain a high-risk occupational group for RTIs.
- Road safety policies appear effective in influencing driver behavior, irrespective of individual safety beliefs.
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