AfRSO Events

Safety of Powered Two-Wheelers in Africa

Overview

The fifth AfRSO webinar addressed one of Africa’s most pressing road safety challenges: the safety of powered two-wheelers (PTWs). Across the continent, motorcycles provide essential mobility but also account for a disproportionately high share of road deaths and serious injuries. Risk factors include low helmet use, substandard helmets, limited rider training, and weak licensing and enforcement systems.

The webinar brought together policymakers, practitioners, development partners, and technical experts to explore how safer systems, better regulation, improved equipment, enhanced training, and new technologies can reduce deaths and serious injuries among PTW users.

Topics Covered

• The Safe African Helmets Initiative (SAHI): ensuring quality helmet standards across Africa
• Policy frameworks for professionalising commercial motorcycle operations
• Evidence-based PTW rider training programmes
• The safety potential of electric motorcycles: digital technologies and fleet management

Speakers

Welcome:

• Mr Eric Ntagengerwa, Head of Transport and Mobility, African Union Commission
• Mr Wouter Van den Berghe, Road Safety Expert, AfRSO Secretariat

Technical Presentations:

• Ms Oliva Nalwadda, Africa Regional Advisor, FIA Foundation — The Safe African Helmets Initiative (SAHI)
• Ms Marisela Ponce De Leon Valdes, Senior Transport Specialist, SSATP — Guidelines for a Policy Framework to Enhance the Safety of Commercial Motorcyclists in African Countries
• Mr Tom Bishop, Program Director, AMEND — The Importance of PTW Rider Training
• Mr Warren Odanje, Africa E-Mobility Alliance (AfEMA) — The Safety Potential of Electric Motorcycles

Closing:

Mr David Niyonsenga, Head of AfRSO Secretariat