Abstract:
Commercial Motorcycle Taxi business, also known as 'Boda boda', is a dominant alternative mode of transport and a means of quick mobility in Kenya. The Boda bodas are associated with significant accident risks and have led to a public health epidemic. The Risky riders' traffic behaviour, coupled with the tendency of the riders to operate like organized urban militia, have often been associated with disruption of socio-economic activities, road accidents, injuries, and deaths. This study sought to explore the influence of Boda boda Riders' traffic Behaviour on Road Safety and the socio-economic well-being of Lodwar town residents. A cross-sectional study was conducted targeting 17,210 households in Lodwar town in Turkana County. The study employed a descriptive research design that involved the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data from residents, motorcycle riders, traffic police officers, and health care workers in Lodwar town. The quantitative data were analyzed by use of frequency counts and percentages cross-tabulations. This study showed that Road Safety and socio-economic well-being were influenced by risky boda boda riders' traffic behaviours. Inferential statistics established that the proportion of respondents asserted that the gender of boda boda, the nature, pattern, and traffic behaviour affected Road Safety by X2, (4, N=335), P=.162. This finding established that there exists no statistically significant relationship between the gender and Road Safety and socio-economic well-being of residents. The study established that the proportion of respondents on the level of education of boda boda riders and traffic behaviour affected Road Safety by X2, (4, N=335), P<.05.This findings implied that there exists a statistically significant relationship between the level of education of boda boda riders and traffic behaviour on Road Safety and Socio-economic well-being of residents in Turkana County. The study established that boda boda’s ownership and traffic behaviour affected road safety and socio-economic well-being of residents of Turkana Central Sub County by X2, (4, N=335), P=.05. The study recommends that: Stakeholders in the boda boda sector should set up rules and regulations to minimize the nature of boda boda riders' patterns of traffic behaviour that affect Road Safety and socio-economic well-being. Boda boda riders should be educated on the negative impacts of their behaviours and how they affect household well-being.
