Prevalence of Carrying Multiple Pillion Riders on the Route to School

Abstract

Abstract.A cross-sectional observation survey was carried out among 6 to 12 year old child pillion riders travelling to and from schools by motorcycle. The study focuses on the prevalence of carrying multiple child pillion riders at the same time, to determine the relationship between child pillion riders' safety helmet compliance, and their seating position and foot peg use. A total of 701 riders and 913 school children were observed. Riders' safety helmet use rate was found to be significantly higher (66.8%) than that of child pillion riders' helmet use (14.7%) with OR=11.7 (95%CI 9.2-14.9). It was observed that 29.1% riders were carrying more than one child pillion rider; with female riders more likely to carry more than one pillion rider (OR=1.6, 95%CI 1.1-2.2). Observation on foot peg use showed that the rear motorcycle pillion rider (BP) are more likely to use the foot pegs as compared to the one in the middle (MP) (OR=11.7, 95%CI 7.8, 17.5). Safety helmet use by child pillion riders on route to school was found to be generally low. Furthermore, there is a significant difference in the child pillion rider safety helmet use compliance, according to the seating position. Children who are seated in the middle are less likely to use the safety helmet. Rear child pillion riders are more likely to use the foot pegs. To increase helmet use there is a need for public awareness campaigns on the safety benefits of safety helmet use among school children. In addition, to increase safety of children while riding as pillion rider, the law of carrying only one pillion rider must be enforced strictly.

A systemic analysis of the usage of safety items among Malaysian private vehicle users

“…Norlen et al of MIROS, had conducted multiple studies on seatbelt wearing and several studies have been selected to show the impact of rear seatbelt law introduced in [22,43,44]. It is clear that rear seatbelt wearing is still low after about six years since the enforceable date, as supported by the latest findings by Aqbal et al (2014) and Wahida et al (2015) [11,27]. A spike only occurred in the earlier months of rear seatbelt law introduction, in which the result was derived from a nationwide level study.…”

“…Compared to seatbelt wearing, most motorcyclists do not place importance on helmet as their only protection, especially in the suburban and rural areas [10,14,46]. The compliance rate was observed as low as 42%, with another 51% not properly wearing their helmet, even during festive seasons when enforcement activities are intensely carried out in the country [27]. Helmet for the child occupant poses a more serious concern, as the study by Noor Faradila et al (2013) and Rabihah et al (2013) confirmed that the wearing rate is still low [27,46].…”

“…The compliance rate was observed as low as 42%, with another 51% not properly wearing their helmet, even during festive seasons when enforcement activities are intensely carried out in the country [27]. Helmet for the child occupant poses a more serious concern, as the study by Noor Faradila et al (2013) and Rabihah et al (2013) confirmed that the wearing rate is still low [27,46]. However, 'child as pillion' as well as the helmet efficacy for them requires another level of discussion as reported by Noor Faradila et al (2013) and Azhar et al (2009) as it is more related to socioeconomic and sociotechnical aspects rather than merely legislative [13,46].…”

Children and motorcycles: a systematic review of risk factors and interventions

“…However, in both on-road and off-road samples, males are more commonly injured as riders, and females as passengers 5 9 20. For exhaust system burns, males and females are affected relatively evenly;21 however, females primarily sustain burns as passengers, while males are more often injured as riders 22…”

“…However, there does not appear to be clear evidence for these limits8 nor much study of the physical limits to safe travel as a pillion passenger 20. A Malaysian study examined the match between child anthropometry and pillion seat design and found children approximating 7 year olds could not reach the foot pegs.…”