The scourge of the Nigerian

What you need to know before boarding a bike

Helmet Information

Inside

Joint eligntenment Campaign for Oka Riders

Powered by Lagos State Government and Fedral Road safety Commisiion

Motor cycle accidents have be-come the most serious problem threatening the entire Nigerian

population. It is against this back-ground that this study attempted to investigate the causes of accidents among commercial motorcyclists in

Borno State, Nigeria. The popula-tion of the study consisted of all the commercial motorcyclists in the State. However, a sample of 2000 commercial motorcyclists was pur-posively selected for the study.

A twenty -item questionnaire titled “Causes of Accident among Com-mercial Motorcyclists in Borno State Questionnaire (CACOMBOQ)” de-signed by the researchers, was used. One research question and two hy-potheses were answered and tested in the study, respectively. Frequency

Brief Overviewcounts, percentages and rank ordering and rank difference correlation coef-ficient were the statistics employed to answer the research question and test the hypotheses respectively.

The findings from the study revealed that influence of drugs, over - speeding, unli-censed and untrained motorcyclists, impa-tience by motorcy-clists, over loading, wrong over - taking, bad roads, non observance of traffic laws, non us of rear mirror and receiv-ing calls while riding were the major causes of accidents among the commercial motorcy-clists.

Also there were significant relationships among age, educational background and causes of accidents. Counselling implications based on the findings in-clude posing threat to lives of the young and the old while it was recommended that organizing enlightenment cam-paigns for commercial motorcyclists, obtaining motorcycle driving licenses by motorcyclists and imposing fines on Okada riders who flout any traffic laws among others.

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Curbing the growth of the com-mercial motorcycle industry is probably the best way to reduce

accidents related to them, argues Demola Ojo It wouldn’t be an exag-geration to state that the commer-cial motorcycle – locally known as Okada – is one of the most popular, and the fastest mode of transporta-tion in the densely populated parts of a Nigerian city like Lagos.

Upscale, downtown, the Okada is ubiquitous. Droning around in hordes like angry bees, they meander through traffic, with many startling motor-ists as they blare truck horns, dart through impossible gaps while disre-garding traffic rules at will. Disobey-ing traffic rules is the norm for the

average Okada rider, rather than an aberration. They overtake from both sides of a car, they’re granted im-munity from obeying traffic lights and more. They’re a curse to other road users who have to constantly be on their toes to avoid being responsible for an accident victim.

The recklessness of the commer-cial motorcyclist has cost lots of lives and many injuries. It is re-

ported that there is a separate ward for Okada accident victims at the Igbobi Orthopaedic Hospital in Yaba, Lagos. But these tales of woe are not enough to deter the time-conscious commuter bent on beating the city’s ever-pre-sent traffic jams. From Abule Egba to Lagos Island, Festac, Ikotun, Surulere…

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Initially, when the law mandating the use of helmets came into effect a year ago, the police and the FRSC marshals were the rule enforcers. But according to Mr Oluremi, a policeman stationed at the Liverpool roundabout in Apapa, “any uniformed official can arrest a defaulter as directed by the Lagos State government.” Musa, an Okada operator reveals that offenders have their mo-torbikes seized with the option of paying a fine to retrieve it. “If they take you to the local government then you pay between N1,000 and N1,500.

However, most of us bribe the officials with any amount starting from N300.” But not everyone has to obey the rules. Bisi Momoh, a Youth Corps member at a legal firm in Yaba asks rhetorically.

The Law Enforcement Crisis

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Have you ever seen a LASTMA official or a policeman on a bike wear a

helmet before?

The very people who are opposed to point people in the right direction are the ones openly flouting it,” she contends. And, the uniformed ones are not the only ones with immunity.

Dusk has fallen over Awolowo way in Ikoyi. It is way past seven in the evening and it is illegal for the Okada

to ply the roads at this time. But an Okada rider swerves dangerously in front of a red Suzuki taxi before slowing to a stop. The passenger winds down and spews out invectives at the “suicide rider.” To his surprise, the cab driver admonishes him.

“Be careful. Don’t you know he might be an officer?” he says peering into his rear-view apprehensively.A thud behind the cab confirms his fears, as a rock bounces off the car. “You see? Thank God it didn’t hit the glass,” the driver tells his passenger, going on to explain that only a military personnel had the guts to not only hurl a missile at a car because of a verbal assault, but to even ply this road at an unlawful time on commercial motorcycle.

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The below is not an isolated case. Many of the long distance Okada riders who operate without helmets are either military officers in mufti, dismissed officers who have some form of ID, or those that go around

falsely claiming they are, when they are not. Tunde Juba, a student at the University of Lagos recounts an experience. “I once took a bike from Ikeja to Victoria Island and had negotiated with the rider for N800. I noticed he didn’t have a helmet but he said ‘insurance cover you’. When we got to V.I. though, he missed the way. When we finally got to my destination he demanded an extra N200 blaming me for the extra distance.

He went as far as dragging me by trousers, claiming to be a naval of-ficer and promising to deal with me. I told him to follow me where I could get extra money from a friend. I then made for the officer’s mess to see a friend’s uncle. Immediately he real-ised where we were headed, he took off.”Not everyone runs when they see government officials. A particu-lar rider without a helmet actually stopped to beg some LASTMA of-ficials on behalf of another defaulter at the Marina.

These incidents support the view that the emphasis placed by most operators and commut-

ers is avoiding the consequences of running afoul of the law, rather than being protected from a head injury in the event of an accident. More often than not, the Okada man hands you the helmet when he’s about to get to a zone where he expects law enforcement officers. “Take ya cap,” this teenage rider says, with an accent that suggests he’s of Northern extraction. It’s how many refer to the helmets that they hand to you. Ironically, instead of laughing at them because of their choice

The Helmet Delima

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of the word “cap”, it is close to an accurate description of the gear in their possession. This is because most of the helmets used by the Okada riders are construction site protective helmets, otherwise known as hard hats. These are designed to protect against falling instru-ments at construction sites, and not protect against a fall as crash helmets are designed to do.

These hard hats are more or less decorations. Many don’t have the straps that are meant to fasten them

with. And even the ones that do are inef-fective for the job they’re meant for. Wai-

di, a mechanic at Ojuelegba boasts that he destroyed one with his foot. “The Okada man refused to give me my change after I decided he wouldn’t carry me further since he nearly got us run over by atrailer.” he says in Yoruba. “So I put the helmet on the floor and stamped on it, cracking it in two.”These types of headwear are often called “brain buckets”, or “novelty helmets”, a term which arose since they cannot legally be called motorcycle helmets. These helmets are not certified and are generally only used to provide the illu- sion of compliance with man- da-tory helmet laws.

Such items are un-suitable for crash protection because they lack the energy-absorbing foam that pro-tects the brain by allow- ing it

to come to a gradual stop during an impact. A “novelty helmet” can protect the scalp against sunburn While riding and - if it stays on during a crash - might protect the scalp against abrasion, but it has no capability to protect the skull or brain from an impact.Here in Lagos the basic headwear go for between N500 and N700. It’s a far

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cry from what the premium helmets are though. An avid biker, Seun Olawore informs: “They cost between N40, 000 and N70, 000 depending on how much you want to protect your head!” he laughs. “Mine cost N120, 000,” he says. In reference to the helmets most Okada riders go around with, he says “all those helmets are just plastic. But mine is composite carbon fibre.”

Meanwhile, some are of the opinion that the enforcement of helmet use is just another gimmick by well-connected businessmen to make money at the expense of the general populace. “What’s the point of enforcing

helmet use when the ones handed over to you by the Okada man makes no difference? I’m sure some people have just found a way to import loads of these things to sell for a profit,” says Chijoke a mobile phone retailer at Saka Tinubu, Victoria Island.

The wisdom in insisting on helmet use cannot be questioned. However, Dr. Fagun, who runs a private medical practice in Ilupeju has an attractive suggestion. “You should own your own helmet and take it around with you,” he says. “If you need to get on a bike, you put it on. Most fatalities from bike accidents result from head injuries. You really don’t want to see the victims. It’s a gory sight.”

He continues: “And they (the helmets) help in attracting attention too,” he jokes.

“You go into a bar with your hel-met and everyone assumes you came with your bike. The ladies would even love you for it. And it’s also an effective tool for self defence,” he continues, piling on the reasons to own a helmet. His many reasons for helmet use are

valid. Only downside would be the prohibitive prices of helmets.

The Helmet Delima - cont

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It surely is no mean feat reducing death and injuries resulting from Okada use. Sensitisation of both riders and commuters is neces-sary, alongside implementing other road safety laws, asides wear-ing helmets. For example, overtaking from the right side flouts driving laws. Why is it okay for the bikes? Beating of traffic lights too;

The authorities seem to have given Okadas get-out-of-jail cards in this re-spect. Also, just putting a helmet on the head isn’t good enough; it must be in good condition, meaning no cracks and it should be strapped on. And maybe the government should take a more active role in regulating the qual-ity of helmets being sold. There should be a baseline.

However, the reduction in number of these commercial motorcyclists should top the list. Not just actively by imposing curfews and reducing the routes they can ply, but also by exploiting other forms of transpor-

tation like the railways (which the Lagos state government is already working on) and the waterways.

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1. Always ask the Bike Rider for a passengers Helmet before boarding a bike.

2. Avoid boarding a bike, which already has a passenger on.

3. Children should try as much as pos-sible to avoid the use of bikes, because of their heights.

4. Pregnant women and Mothers should generally avoid bikes, because of its safety concerns.

5. Always hold down on both sides of the bike, while in motion to prevent accidental falls during movement.

6. Always ensure the helmets are clean before wearing them, Better still it’s ad-vised you buy your own helmet.

7. Never Rush or distract a bike rider, this could cause accidents.

8. Always monitor or caution a bike rid-er, if he is ridding recklessly or too fast.

Do’s and Don’ts of Bikes

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The Nigerian educational system would need to be adjusted in terms of fees and scholarships to enable, less privileged homes send their wards to schools, and these in return

would reduce the rate of illiterates in the society which would also affect the number of bikes we have on our roads today.

The Nigerian gov-ernment would need to check and en-sure that only origi-nal helmets are be-ing imported into the country, this would help in reducing and averting bike relat-ed accidents on our roads. In totality the

current bikers that ply Nigerian Roads would need to be re-ori-ented from a time to time basis not just once a year or during festive periods like we have in Nigeria today.

If all solutions raised in this publication are duly addressed, then I believe that the old face of the Bike (Okada) riders in Nigeria would be changed for the better.

Information sources: Thisday Online, Guardian Newspapers, Google Search, Wikipedia

Conclusion