Background of the Study
Road traffic injuries and deaths caused by motor vehicles are a growing public health problem all over the world (Agnitotri and Joshi 2006). Motorbike crashes can also be referred to as motorcycle accidents. Several studies have shown that road traffic injuries (RTI’s) are a major cause of death and disability globally, with a disproportionate number occurring in developing countries (Banthia et al, 2006). Road crashes are the second leading cause of death globally among young people aged 5 to 29 and the third leading cause of death among people aged 30 to 44 years (WHO, 2004). Road crashes kill 1.2 million people every year and injure or disable as many as 50 million more. Without immediate action to improve road safety, it is estimated that road traffic deaths will increase by 80% in low and middle-income countries by 2020 (WHO, 2004). Ghana is rated among the leading six accident-prone countries in the world. Some of the factors that precipitate motorbike accidents are tiredness, drunk driving, machine failure, over speeding, nature of the road. As a result of the negative impact of motorcycle crashes in Ghana, the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) was therefore established by an act of parliament (Act 567) in 1999 with the mission of promoting best road safety practices for all categories of road users with the vision of making Ghana a country with the safest road transportation system to reduce road accidents. Motorcycles are the most dangerous form of motorized transportation.
