Improving Motorcycle Taxi Driver Visibility in Tanzania

Improving Motorcycle Taxi Driver Visibility in Tanzania-A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

The purpose of this study is to determine whether providing motorcycle taxi drivers with a free reflective fluorescent vest will result in increased use of reflective or fluorescent clothing compared to education about wearing reflective or fluorescent clothing alone.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Accidents, Traffic
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Free reflective, fluorescent vest; Behavioral: Education

Detailed Description

Road traffic injuries are the 4th leading cause of death among individuals in the economically productive age group (age 15 to 59) in low and middle income countries. The Africa region currently has some of the world's highest traffic injury rates, with vulnerable road users, including motorcycle riders, bearing a disproportionate share of the injury burden.

Motorcycles are a rapidly growing form of transport in Africa, both for personal and commercial transportation. Conspicuity measures-factors that increase a motorcycle rider's visibility-for the prevention of motorcycle crash have been previously studied and found to be associated with a decreased risk of crash.

Motorcycle taxi drivers are a particularly high risk population for motorcycle crash as they operate a motorcycle for several hours a day. Reflective, fluorescent safety vests are a common article worn by motorcycle drivers in some locations; however, penetration of such clothing in Moshi is currently low. This study aims to increase use of reflective vests among commercial motorcycle drivers. We will test whether provision of a free reflective, fluorescent vest increases use of reflective, fluorescent clothing compared to education about wearing reflective, fluorescent clothing alone.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 180
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Tanzania
  • Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania
    • Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• motorcycle riders who identify themselves as motorcycle taxi drivers
• individuals must work at least 2 days a week as a motorcycle taxi driver
• have a telephone number for ride solicitation
• have a license plate that is able to be recorded
• are at least 18 years old
• are willing to have us contact them in the future for repeat surveys

Exclusion Criteria:

• motorcycle riders who do not meet the above criteria
• motorcycle riders who do not consent to participate

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Vest and Education; Motorcycle Taxi Drivers provided with a reflective, fluorescent vest and basic education about recommended measures to increase their visibility	Other: Free reflective, fluorescent vest; Motorcycle taxi drivers in the intervention arm will receive a free reflective, fluorescent vest; Behavioral: Education; Both arms will receive brief, basic education about recommended measures to increase their visibility
Other: Education Alone; Motorcycle Taxi Drivers provided with basic education about recommended measures to increase their visibility	Behavioral: Education; Both arms will receive brief, basic education about recommended measures to increase their visibility

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Use of reflective or fluorescent clothing	The use of reflective or fluorescent clothing will be compared between the intervention and control groups over the observation period	3-5 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Wearing White Helmet	The use of white helmets will be compared between the intervention and control groups over the observation period	3-5 months
Daytime Running Headlights	The use of daytime running headlights will be compared between the intervention and control groups over the observation period	3-5 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Duke University
• Collaborators: Fogarty International Center of the National Institute of Health; Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Tanzania
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Nathan M Thielman, MD, MPH, Duke University; Study Director: Steven A Sumner, MD, Duke University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: February 1, 2013
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 1, 2013
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 21, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 21, 2012
• First Posted (Estimate): November 27, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): August 9, 2013
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 6, 2013
• Last Verified: August 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: traffic accidents, motorcycle, injury, conspicuity
• Other Study ID Numbers: Pro00034415; 1R25TW009337-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)