A Tanzanian technician has designed a new technology that requires motorcycle (BodaBoda) riders to put on their helmets in order for the engine to start in a move to reduce road fatalities.
Thousands of deaths and injuries from BodaBoda accidents have been recorded every year despite the government’s efforts to reduce them by providing education on the importance of the riders using their helmets, the Citizen reports.
According to a report from Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institutes (MOI), for the past eight years, road accident injures caused by motorcycles stood at 24,131.
In a move to curb the rising number of deaths, Ms Aneth Mganga came up with the new technology, which requires riders to put on their helmets before the ignition of the BodaBodas.
The BodaBoda have currently become the largest source of income for majority of the unemployed youth, but it also means of transport for most people especially who live reside in the outskirts of major cities, the report said.
The new technology was first demonstrated at the country’s Nane Nane Agriculturakl Exhibitions.
Mganga explained that the device consists of two parts namely transmitter and receiver whereby the former is placed at the helmet while latter is on the motorcycle.
All the rider needs to do is put on the helmet properly, then the signal will be sent to the receiver and the rider can switch on, and continue with normal operations, this is according to her.
According to Mganga, the new technology hopes to minimise the effects of accidents caused by BodaBodas, with majority of the fatalities recorded among those who do not wear helmets.
Mganga’s technology is meant to also cut down on theft cases, since for one to ignite a motorcycle they will require a helmet.
The project is not yet 100 per cent complete, but Mganga promised everything would be complete soon.
“I am carrying this project out in collaborating by other teachers at VETA Kipawa. After completing this project, we will start working on another one, which will target passengers,” she said, expressing hopes that the devices will get the nod from the top authority.” The report said.
Data from the country’s traffic police headquarters indicates that 7,219 people have died in motorcycle accidents in the past nine years, leaving 35,878 people with injuries.
