Improving Motorcycle Taxi Driver Visibility in Tanzania

Duke University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Accidents, Traffic

Treatments: Behavioral: Education; Other: Free reflective, fluorescent vest

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT01733537

1R25TW009337-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Pro00034415

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to determine whether providing motorcycle taxi drivers with a free reflective fluorescent vest will result in increased use of reflective or fluorescent clothing compared to education about wearing reflective or fluorescent clothing alone.

Full description

Road traffic injuries are the 4th leading cause of death among individuals in the economically productive age group (age 15 to 59) in low and middle income countries. The Africa region currently has some of the world's highest traffic injury rates, with vulnerable road users, including motorcycle riders, bearing a disproportionate share of the injury burden.

Motorcycles are a rapidly growing form of transport in Africa, both for personal and commercial transportation. Conspicuity measures-factors that increase a motorcycle rider's visibility-for the prevention of motorcycle crash have been previously studied and found to be associated with a decreased risk of crash.

Motorcycle taxi drivers are a particularly high risk population for motorcycle crash as they operate a motorcycle for several hours a day. Reflective, fluorescent safety vests are a common article worn by motorcycle drivers in some locations; however, penetration of such clothing in Moshi is currently low. This study aims to increase use of reflective vests among commercial motorcycle drivers. We will test whether provision of a free reflective, fluorescent vest increases use of reflective, fluorescent clothing compared to education about wearing reflective, fluorescent clothing alone.

Enrollment: 180 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• motorcycle riders who identify themselves as motorcycle taxi drivers
• individuals must work at least 2 days a week as a motorcycle taxi driver
• have a telephone number for ride solicitation
• have a license plate that is able to be recorded
• are at least 18 years old
• are willing to have us contact them in the future for repeat surveys

Exclusion criteria

• motorcycle riders who do not meet the above criteria
• motorcycle riders who do not consent to participate

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

180 participants in 2 patient groups

Vest and Education

Experimental group

Description:

Motorcycle Taxi Drivers provided with a reflective, fluorescent vest and basic education about recommended measures to increase their visibility

Treatment:

Other: Free reflective, fluorescent vest

Behavioral: Education

Education Alone

Other group

Description:

Motorcycle Taxi Drivers provided with basic education about recommended measures to increase their visibility

Treatment:

Behavioral: Education