By Djinodji SOLMENGAR Rodrigue
Helmet prices for motorcycle riders in N’Djamena have doubled in 15 days, rising from 5,000 to 12,000 CFA francs after city authorities announced mandatory helmet use motorbike taxi riders.
Motorbike taxi riders say the increase has made compliance more difficult.
“We are not comfortable with the helmet rule,” one rider said. “We only have two helmets, one for the rider and one for the passenger. We cannot use the same helmet for every client, and we cannot afford to buy several.”
He added that riders would prefer authorities to improve road conditions instead.
Meanwhile, city officials say they introduced the measure to improve road safety and regulate urban transport.
“We observed a high level of disorder in urban transport in N’Djamena,” said Gadengar Roasna Rodrigue, Director of Urban Planning, Development and Urban Transport. “Many taxi, minibus and motorcycle operators remain unidentified. As a result, authorities often struggle to trace drivers after accidents.”
Roasna added that the Ministry of Public Health approved the helmets.
According to city officials, health ministry data show that head trauma accounts for 21% of motorcycle road accident cases in the capital. In addition, head injuries represent nearly 70% of rider deaths in such accidents.
Officials estimate that 16,000 motorcycle riders operate in N’Djamena. With traffic increasing, authorities say they must strengthen road safety measures.
