Thesis:

Determinants of road traffic accidents among motorcycle riders in Kitui county, Kenya

Motorcycle accidents remain one of the main global public health concern. The African region has the highest road fatality rates globally, in spite of being the least motorized region. In Kenya, motor cycles are widely used as a cheap and reliable means of transport. Kenya has an estimated road fatality rate of 20.9 per 100,000 people, higher than that of the European region. There has been an increased use of motorcycles in Kenya over the last decade, so has the number of deaths from motorcycle injury. The rise of two-wheeled automobiles as a means of transport in the majority of urban and rural settings has led to a new outlook on safety measure in Kenya as a nation. This study was aimed to establish the determinants of motorcycle accidents among riders in selected four sub counties of Kitui namely: Kitui Central, Kitui West, Kitui Rural and Kitui East in Kitui County, Kenya. The study set out to ascertain which personal traits drove motorcycle accidents in Kitui County, which environmental factors affected motorbike accidents in Kitui County, as well as which riding skills affected motorcycle accidents in Kitui County. Justification of this study was based on the KHIS reports on the road traffic accidents in the county. Theoretical, empirical and critical literature review was done by scrutinizing other related studies by scholars. The investigation used a cross-sectional design with descriptive characteristics in which the investigator collected data using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Purposive sampling was used to select the four sub counties. This was based on the geographical characteristics and also desk review on the prevalence of motorcycle accident in the sub counties as per the KHIS reports. Youth who were regarded as motorcycle riders formed the target demographic. The study's primary informant population was comprised of 424 those surveyed from each of the four sub-counties. A structured questionnaire was used for gathering quantitative data, and focus group discussions and key informant interviews with motorcycle riders were employed to obtain qualitative data. The SPSS program was used to code, enter, and analyze the collected data. A combination of charts, tables, and graphs were used to present the results. On the environmental factor, majority of those interviewed (69%) were unanimously in agreement that Kitui County has a higher rate of motorcycle accidents as a result of poor road conditions. The study also established those motorcycling abilities, individual characteristics, and environmental variable all had an influence on motorcycle accidents. Majority of the riders had not gotten any forma training and therefore they always violated traffic rules leading to the high prevalence of accidents in the four sub counties The findings of this recommends for The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to carry out regular inspection of motor cycles to reduce the risks of faults that can lead to accidents and also advise both the National and County governments on policies in regards to transport sector and road safety. The Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERRA) should carry out regular rehabilitation and maintenance of roads to minimize the number of accidents due to poor roads and provide road signages for the precautionary measures by the motorists. The study recommends that motorists should have self-initiative for formal training to ensure compliance with the set regulations.