The Motorcycle Crash Characteristics in Lagos State, Nigeria

Motorcycles contribute significantly to the number of automobiles on the roads in Lagos State, Nigeria. This development is attributable to poor public transport supply, urban sprawl and bad roads. The use of motorcycles in Lagos State is associated with high accident rate both on the side of the riders and the passengers. This paper examined motorcycle trends, ownership and accidents in Lagos State. Furthermore, the paper examined empirically riders’ and passengers’ perception on the use of motorcycles with the administration of 1,400 questionnaires on riders and 1,550 questionnaires on passengers. The paper revealed that a great percentage of the riders are male graduates (married) who earn above thirty naira a day and their activities are characterized by overloading, overspeeding and the non-use of crash helmets. Passengers, both the rich and the poor, use motorcycles purposely to beat traffic congestion, save time and enhance accessibility. The paper recommended proper accident reporting, planning, effective enforcement measures and training of motorcycle riders in Lagos State, Nigeria.