The Trans-safe project held a virtual outbound exchange coordinated by ICLEI Africa. This event was part of the project’s peer-to-peer exchange initiative, aimed at facilitating knowledge and skills sharing on road safety, with a specific focus on motorcycle rider safety and injury prevention.
Event Overview
The virtual outbound exchange was a continuation of the discussions initiated during the inbound trip, which saw engagement between consortium partners from Europe and Africa at the Walk21 conference in Kigali, Rwanda, in October 2023. A post event article can be found here. The virtual outbound exchange provided a platform for about 35 participants from various sectors, including academia, NGOs, the private sector, and multilateral organizations, to exchange ideas and strategies on improving motorcycle safety. The discussion was enriched by presentations from various experts, who shared their insights and experiences from both African and European contexts.
Key Themes Explored
Motorcycle rider safety was the central theme of the exchange, with discussions focusing on the unique challenges faced by motorcyclists on the road. The key topics included:
Barriers to Motorcycle Rider Safety: Experts identified environmental, behavioral, and infrastructural factors that contribute to the high risk of injuries among motorcycle riders.
Mitigating Injury Risks: Innovative methods to reduce injury risks, such as integrating motorcycles with other forms of transportation and improving helmet technology, were discussed.
Preventing Head Injuries: The importance of protective gear, especially helmets, was emphasized as a critical measure for preventing severe head injuries in motorcycle crashes.
The event began with a creative exercise where participants shared local names for motorcycles, creating a word cloud that represented the diverse cultural contexts within which motorcycle safety is being addressed.
Presentations and Key Takeaways
1. Global Infrastructure Safety Metrics for PTWs - Olivera Rozi (iRAP): Olivera Rozi from the International Road Assessment Program (iRAP) highlighted the importance of assessing road safety for Powered Two-Wheelers (PTWs) using globally recognized methodologies. She emphasized the need for infrastructure improvements to enhance PTW safety, noting that only 25% of roads globally are rated 3-star or better for PTWs. Rozi’s presentation underscored the critical role of data in driving effective interventions and the need for systematic approaches to scale up PTW-specific safety measures.
2. National Helmet Wearing Coalition - Sam Clarke (Transaid): Sam Clarke discussed the efforts of the National Helmet Wearing Coalition in Kenya, which was established to promote helmet use among motorcycle riders. He highlighted the coalition’s success in setting up a platform for collaboration between government, private sector, and civil society to address motorcycle safety. Despite the challenges, such as low helmet use and the prevalence of substandard helmets, the coalition has made significant strides in raising awareness and improving safety standards.
3. Head Injury Prevention - Dr. Innocent Nzeyimana (Healthy People Rwanda): Dr. Innocent Nzeyimana emphasized the holistic approach needed for head injury prevention, including safe infrastructure, road user education, and post-crash care. He highlighted the importance of helmet quality, noting that despite high compliance with helmet use in Rwanda, the high rate of fatalities points to the need for better enforcement of helmet standards.
4. Virtual Approach Toward Mobility Injury Mitigation - Assoc. Prof. Luděk Hynčík, Ph.D. (University of West Bohemia): Assoc. Prof. Luděk Hynčík presented on the use of virtual testing methodologies to predict and prevent injuries in mobility systems. He discussed the advantages of using personalized dummies in simulations to enhance safety measures and develop effective protective equipment. Luděk also highlighted the need for safer barrier designs on roadways, which are often dangerous for motorcyclists.
Conclusion
The TRANS-SAFE virtual outbound exchange provided valuable insights into the challenges and solutions for improving motorcycle rider safety in Africa and beyond. The discussions and presentations emphasized the need for continued collaboration, data-driven interventions, and systematic approaches to reduce the high rates of injuries and fatalities among motorcycle riders. As the project progresses, the lessons learned from this exchange will be crucial in shaping future road safety initiatives and policies aimed at protecting vulnerable road users across the continent.
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