Abstract:
Background: Motorcyclists and their passengers are 37 times more likely to die in traffic injury than drivers of four wheeled vehicles. These rates of death and injury from motorcyclist are reportedly higher in developing countries than in the developed world. Observed risk riding behavior of motorcyclists in the Dar es Salaam City included, carrying more than one passenger, riding under the influence of alcohol, over-speeding, and non-adherence to or ignorance to road traffic laws and regulations such as ignoring traffic police instructions and riding through red traffic lights. Objectives: The purpose of the study was to explore the reason behind reckless riding among motorcyclists in Dar es Salaam. Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study design was used for generating data. A total of 279 commercial motorcyclists participated in this study. All riders on the motorcyclists parking points along Morogoro road on the day of data collection were included in the study sample. Structured interview guides were used for getting the required data and included questions which measured knowledge on road use behavior and traffic regulations. The data collected from the field were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 20, (SPSS 20). Results: All commercial motorcyclists were males with the median ages of 27 years. Most of them (73.5%) had primary education or less. None of them had any formal training on motorcycles riding. They disclosed that, they learned how to ride the motorcycles from garages (11.1%), friends (53.8%), and relatives or family member (35.1%). Nearly a half of the respondents (49.5%) had an average knowledge of road use behaviour and traffic regulation. Ignorance of traffic law (99.6%), frequent traffic jam (86.4%), lack of action from traffic police when they ignored traffic rules and regulations (96.7%) were among reasons given for reckless riding behaviors in the city. xiv Conclusion: Generally, the study participants learned how to ride the motorcycles from informal sources and the majority of them were ignorant of traffic rules and regulations. Reasons for not wearing helmets when on the road included: showoff to other riders, add weight to their heads, helmet affects the visibility and helmet weakens the ability to hear. Recommendation: There should be regular educational campaigns to all commercial motorcyclists on traffic regulation and road use behaviour so as to enhance awareness on road use behaviour and traffic regulations.
