Africans Be Aware; Wearing a Helmet on Motorcycle Rides Saves Lives
By Adebowale Bello. B.Tech Microbiology, Freelance Health Writer. Reviewed by the DLHA Team.
Composite everyday scenes of motorcycle rides in an African country.
In many African cities and villages, if you need to get somewhere fast, use a motorcycle taxi, commonly known as Okada (Nigeria and Ghana), Boda boda (Kenya and Uganda), Phen-phen Burkina Faso and Liberia). Motorcycle taxis are a popular mode of transport across Africa because they are fast, affordable and able to manoeuvre through traffic and along poorly maintained roads with ease. However, they are also among the most dangerous forms of transportation.
Every day, we hear of motorcycle crashes that leave people seriously injured or even dead. One major factor that determines whether a motorcyclist survives or dies in a crash is whether or not they are wearing a helmet.
A recent study from the United States has shown that enforcing compulsory helmet laws can be instrumental in saving lives. As African countries struggle with rising road traffic injuries and deaths, especially from motorcycle accidents, this research holds important lessons for us.
The study was conducted by a group of surgeons and public health experts from a Level 1 trauma centre in the United States. Their hospital is located in North Carolina (NC), a state with a strict helmet law that requires all motorcycle riders to wear helmets. Just next door is South Carolina (SC), where the law is more relaxed and only requires people under 21 to wear helmets.
The researchers reviewed 10 years of data from motorcycle crash victims who were treated at their hospital between 2012 and 2022. They analysed helmet use, injury severity and outcomes like admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) or death. Their aim was to see how helmet laws influence behaviour and health outcomes.
The study included 2,196 motorcycle crash victims with known helmet status. Here’s what they discovered:
9 out of 10 (94%) of crash victims from NC wore helmets, compared to just 5 of 10 (52%) from SC. This difference reflects the impact of the law in each state.
Riders who didn’t wear helmets were more likely to suffer serious head and body injuries and to be admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). In fact, non-helmet wearing patients had a 7% (i.e. 7 out of 100) death rate compared to 4.4% (4 out of 100) for those who wore helmets.
Although SC law requires riders under 21 to wear helmets, many still didn’t. One out of three under-21 motorcycle riders were not wearing helmets at the time of their crash.
Those who wore helmets were also more likely to have commercial insurance, while non-helmet wearing riders were often uninsured, shifting the cost of treatment to taxpayers.
In many African countries, motorcycle accidents are a daily occurrence. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, Africa has just 3% of vehicles globally, yet 1 in 5 persons die in road traffic accidents, thereby earning the continent the highest rate of road traffic deaths globally.
Even though helmets are a simple, proven way to reduce the number and severity of injuries, the use of helmets across Africa is still low in many places. However, this study shows that when everyone is required to wear a helmet, more people follow the rule. The result is fewer deaths, fewer head injuries and less pressure on hospitals.
Some African countries already have helmet laws in place but enforcement is weak. Many riders and passengers still hop on motorcycles without any protection. In rural areas, helmets are often unavailable or unaffordable while in urban areas, the laws are not always taken seriously.
There is also a problem of perception. Some people believe that helmets are uncomfortable or unnecessary for short trips while others think they make them look strange. These beliefs contribute to non-compliance and make it harder to enforce safety laws.
While the study was not conducted in an African country, it provides solid evidence that helmet laws save lives. It shows that when laws are clear and apply to everyone, people are more likely to wear helmets. It also confirms that wearing a helmet reduces the chances of dying or ending up in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a hospital after a crash.
For African policymakers, health professionals and road safety advocates, the message is clear; push for and enforce universal helmet laws for all riders on motorcycles regardless of age.
Additionally, public education campaigns are needed to change attitudes towards helmet use. Helmets should not be seen as an optional accessory but as a life-saving necessity. Providing access to affordable, good-quality helmets is also key, especially in low-income and rural communities.
Motorcycles are here to stay. They are part of the transport system and livelihood across Africa. If lives must be protected, helmet use while riding on motorcycles must be taken seriously. The evidence is clear that helmets reduce deaths and serious injuries and that universal helmet laws work better than partial ones.
If you're getting on an okada, ask the rider for a helmet and strap it on securely, it's a simple and effective way to save your life.
1. Jensen S, Ricker A, Sing R, Ross S, Cunningham K, et al. Association of State Helmet Laws with Helmet Use and Injury Outcomes in Motorcycle Crashes. Journal of the American College of Surgeons 2025;10.1097/XCS.0000000000001400. Available from here.
2. Akinlade OC, Brieger SW. Motorcycle taxis and road safety in Southwestern Nigeria; [Internet]. Int’l. Quarterly of Community Health Education, 2003-2004; Vol. 22(1 & 2) 17-31, 2003-2004. Available from here.
Published: July 8, 2025
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