Predictors of road traffic accident, road traffic injury and death among commercial motorcyclists in an urban area of Nigeria

Background: Road traffic accidents, injuries and deaths remain important public health problems in both developed and developing countries. These problems have since escalated with the introduction of the new phenomenon of commercial motorcycle transportation such as is found in the urbanizing slum of Nnewi, Anambra state of Nigeria. Method: Using a semi-structured, interviewer administered questionnaire, relevant data on socio-demographic and motorcycle characteristics were collected from a sample of 291 commercial motorcyclists selected by systematic sampling technique. Data on RTA, RTI and death were also collected from them over a period of three months. Result: The result showed that young commercial motorcyclists {<30 years of age}, experienced higher fatal injury rate than older ones {>30 years of age}, {p<0.01}. Motorcyclists with some formal education experienced RTA and RTI incidence rates that were significantly lower than those of motorcyclists with no formal education, {p<0.01}. In the same vein, medical condition and social vices such as alcohol intake among the motorcyclists were found to be obvious predictors of RTA, RTI and death. Furthermore, motorcyclists who used >100cc engine capacity motorcycles had significantly higher RTA incidence rate {478.8/100 MCY}, RTI rate {223.2/100MCY}and FIR {410/100MCY} than users of <100cc engine motorcycles who recorded RTA incidence of 258.9/100MCY, RTI rate of 49/100MCY and zero fatal injury respectively {p<0.01, p<0.001, p<0.001 respectively}. Conclusion: A careful consideration of all these predictors individually and collectively, will enable stakeholders in transport industry plan effective RTA, RTI and death control measures. Rather than an outright ban of motorcycle transportation, evening classes can be organized for the motorcyclists at subsidized rates to improve their literacy levels to run side by side with road safety informational lessons delivered at their places of work