Gbarpolu County Senator, Amara Konneh has supported the Liberia National Police (LNP) full compliance regulation on motorcyclists.
Senator Konneh in a Facebook post on Thursday, May 16, 2024 said people admire Rwanda for its helmet policy but ”We don’t want to do the same in our country. We want things to improve but we are not disciplined to achieve it because of our indiscipline, we oppose everything that is good for us.”
“Rwanda requires helmets for motorbikes, also known as “boda boda,” but they don’t have to meet any standards. The helmets are mostly imported from India and China, and Rwanda doesn’t have the testing capabilities to ensure they meet standards. However, each helmet and rider must have a unique identifying number stamped on the driver’s jacket and bike. Rwanda doesn’t allow more than one passenger on a bike. As a result, motorbike accidents are down drastically since they enacted a law to regulate the “boda boda,” Konneh said.
Senator Konneh said according to the United Nations Road Safety Fund, certified motorcycle helmets can reduce the risk of severe head injury by 69% and death by 42% if used properly.
He noted that Snell Foundation, a standards-setting body, recommends replacing helmets every five years, though this depends on the helmet’s condition.
The Gbarpolu County Senator said if Liberians want to be like other countries they praise for implementing good public policies that improve their people’s conditions, then they must practice what they do.
