HELMET USE AS A SAFETY TOOL AMONG MOTORCYCLE RIDERS IN IBADAN, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This work studies helmets use as a safety tool among motorcycle riders in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria. The instrument of data collection was a structured interviewer administered questionnaire on 400 motorcycle riders at Mokola and Sango areas, Ibadan. 330 responses were obtained to give a return rate of 82.5%. The analysis of the results showed that the frequency of helmet use in the study areas is 77.6% and that of non-user is 22.4%. 80% of the respondents felt that helmet use should be mandatory while only 20% felt that it should be at the discretion of riders. 150 (45.5%) respondents have ever been involved in motorcycle accidents out of which 94 (62.7%) were involved in head injury accidents. Up to 86 (91.5%) of these were involved in head injury accident before the introduction of legislation for compulsory crash helmet wear by motorcyclists in Nigeria while only 8(8.5%) were involved in the accident after the legislation of the law. This shows a decrease in head injury accidents after implementation of crash helmet law. Hence, there is need to strengthen existing legal enforcement of helmet use and ensure the availability of quality helmet to non-user both the commercial and private motorcyclists.