Perceived challenges of implementing the motorcycle helmet law in Kampala

Abstract

In order to make motorcycle riding safer the government decided to introduce compulsory helmet use for motorcycle riders. Thus in July 2004 the Ministry of Works and Transport announced new traffic regulations which banned traveling on a motor cycle without a helmet. It was illegal for both riders and passengers to move on motorcycles without helmets. The researcher therefore undertook this study in order to find out what the riders, passengers and law enforcers considered to be the challenges of implementing such a law. The aim of the study was to examine the obstacles that could hinder the implementation of the law. This was done through getting the attitudes of the riders and passengers about the law, examining the perceptions of the law enforcers on challenges of enforcing such a law and assessing the efforts that were put in place to enforce the law. The dissertation depended mainly on primary data and some secondary data. The primary data was collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and observations. The secondary data was collected through library research and internet sources. The key findings and conclusions of the study show that the riders and passengers had a negative attitude towards some aspects of the law and were not abiding by the law. In this case they did not like the costs and quality of the helmets on sale. They disliked some aspects of the law and methods of law enforcement such as the harsh penalties and arrest by wrong groups. They were also skeptical about the law succeeding. The law enforcement was not strong enough to create a change due to various problems faced by enforcers that included shortage of manpower, poor public support and loophole in the law. Therefore, the challenges perceived by the enforcers were social, economic and legal. The efforts put in place to enforce the law were too little to create a big positive change in helmet use.