Assessing knowledge, attitudes and practices of commercial motorcyclists towards compliance with road traffic lights in Nakawa Division, Kampala City, Uganda

Abstract

Introduction: Globally, road traffic crashes (RTCs) account for 1.25 million deaths and about 20 to 50 million injuries per year. In Uganda, road traffic crashes (RTCs) majorly affect the economically productive age group which in turn negatively affects the country’s economy. Increased use of motorcycles is associated with high road traffic crashes (RTCs), especially among commercial motorcyclists, who have a poor road safety record. This may be attributable to paying little attention to road traffic signs and regulations such as road traffic lights. Objective: To assess knowledge, attitudes and practices of commercial motorcyclists towards compliance with road traffic lights in Nakawa Division, Kampala City so as to inform policy makers and stake holders in formulating policies, creating awareness channels and interventions that will help in making road transport safer for every road user. Methodology: A cross-sectional study that utilized both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods was employed. In the quantitative method, structured questionnaires were used and key informant guides were used to collect qualitative data. Also, an observational checklist was used in the study. The collected data was entered and cleaned using Epi-data version 3.0 after which it was exported to Stata for univariate analysis. The qualitative data from key informants was analysed using thematic code analysis. Results: Almost all commercial motorcyclists, 99.5% (382/384) were knowledgeable about how road traffic lights work. Only about one third of respondents, 29.2% (112/384), had ever received information on compliance with road traffic lights. Majority, 90.1% (346/384) respondents agreed that failure to comply with road traffic lights results into road traffic crashes, but only 52.3% (201/384) of the respondents agreed that it is necessary to comply with road traffic lights. Few commercial motorcyclists, 42.7% (164/384) reported that they comply with road traffic lights. This was reported to be so because of; competition for passengers 98.2% (216/220), followed by pressure from their passengers 89.1(196/220). On observation, less than a third, 22% (84/384) complied with road traffic lights. Conclusion: Generally, commercial motorcyclists had good knowledge, poor attitudes and low compliance with road traffic lights. Therefore, this calls for strict enforcement of laws on compliance with road traffic lights and sensitization of commercial motorcyclists and the general public about the importance of compliance with road traffic lights.