Children should never take bodaboda rides

What you need to know:

  • Consequently, motorcycle taxis – popularly known as bodabodas – have become a convenient and affordable means of passenger transport in the sprawling metropolis, weaving their way into, out of, and around traffic jams.

Parents must always ensure that their children get to school on time. In Dar es Salaam, this is problematic because of road congestion and crowded commuter buses.

Consequently, motorcycle taxis – popularly known as bodabodas – have become a convenient and affordable means of passenger transport in the sprawling metropolis, weaving their way into, out of, and around traffic jams.

One safety requirement is that bodaboda drivers and passengers must wear helmets and reflective jackets.

The helmets are to protect both riders from head injuries in case of an accident.

However, a study published in the Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Food Sciences shows that indiscriminate use of helmets by different persons is a major health risk.

That is because helmets can be breeding grounds for assorted microorganisms such as bacteria, leading to transmission of pathogenic microorganisms and communicable diseases among users.

In any case, parents and guardians should always remember it’s not only dangerous to transport children using bodabodas, but that this is among the riskiest means of transport. Young children can fall asleep on bodabodas and are not strong enough to firmly hold onto the machine and or the driver.

That is to say nothing of the exposure of children to dust, rain, wind and any number of agents that are not particularly friendly to them.

Then again, in case of a serious accident, children not only suffer head and bodily injuries, some are more likely to die than recover from the injuries at such a tender age.

This is also to say nothing of young schoolgirls who easily fall prey to unscrupulous bodaboda operators who take advantage of their vulnerability and their need to report in class on time.

So, ideally, children should never take bodaboda rides if that can be helped.