MOTORCYCLIST CHARACTERISTICS AND TRAFFIC BEHAVIOUR IN URBAN NORTHERN GHANA: IM PLICATIONS FOR ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

Abstract

This study examines how motorcyclist characteristics influence their road traffic behaviour and its implications on road traffic accidents in Wa, a rapidly urbanizing city in North-western Ghana. The results reported in this study is based on data collected from multiple sources including randomly administered questionnaire to motorcyclists and stakeholder interview s with Officials of road traffic and safety institutions. Our results show that age, occupation and ownership of motorcycle w ere significantly associated with w earing-helm et. Again, age and alcohol use was found to have a significant relationship. The number of road traffic accidents and deaths w ere related to road traffic behaviour of motorcyclist. We argue that the trend is likely to continue and perhaps escalate unless an intensive and w ell coor- dinated road traffic education on safe traffic behaviour is adopted and efficiently implemented and complemented with strict law enforcement.