Motorized two- and three-wheeler fatalities in Ghana: trends, risk factors, and policy implications

Although motorized two- and three-wheelers are affordable, fast and can travel on poor road conditions, their negative consequences cannot be ignored. This study seeks to investigate the trend and compare the nature of crashes involving motorized two-wheelers and three-wheelers (comprising rickshaws and tricycles). Crash data for the twenty-year period, 2002–2021 and the accumulated number of registered motorcycles were used for the trend analysis. Data for the four-year period, 2018–2021, was used for the comparative analysis of the different types of motorcycles. To determine whether there are differences between the variables, chi-square (χ 2 ) tests were performed on the crash data for the various motorcycle modes to assess statistical significance. From the analysis, motorcycle is now the riskiest mode of transport in Ghana contributing 31.7% of fatalities in 2021 from a 2.7% share in 2002. Fatalities among motorcyclists increased by over 1800%, the highest of any road user type during the period. The two-wheelers constituted 85% of all the deaths with tricycles and rickshaws representing 13% and 2%, respectively. Fatalities among the different types of motorcycles varied with gender, age, time of day, day of week, collision type, region, type of ridership and number of vehicles involved in collision. A policy framework is required by the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) to regulate commercial motorcycle operations which have fast become part of the commercial transport system, albeit illegal, in all parts of the country. The police should ensure the strict enforcement of crash helmet wearing among the two-wheelers to reduce fatalities. • Motorcycle fatalities in Ghana rose from 2.7% in 2002 to 31.7% in 2021, making them the riskiest transport mode. • Two-wheelers caused 85% of motorcycle deaths, tricycles 13%, and rickshaws 2%. • Fatalities varied by gender, age, time of day, weekday, collision type, region, rider type, and number of vehicles. • A policy framework is needed to regulate commercial motorcycles, with stricter helmet enforcement to reduce fatalities.