Caroline Biwott’s scientific contributions

This study sought to determine the influence of Traffic Visual Communication on Road Safety amongst Boda–Boda Motorcyclists in Kenyan Cities. These include road signs, symbols, and also road markings. Roadside advertisements and the presence of police all communicate visually. Road safety has become a major concern worldwide due to the high prevalence of death and injury among road users. This study was anchored on the social cognitive theory, the safety culture theory, and the uses and gratification theory. The study used a pragmatic philosophical paradigm with a convergent parallel design of mixed-method research. Stratified sampling and simple random sampling were used to draw the target population of 399 Boda-boda motorcyclists from the four cities in Kenya, namely Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru, a final sample of 399 Boda-boda motorcyclists was made. Quantitative data was collected from the motorcyclists by use of semi-structured questionnaires while key informant interviews were used to collect the qualitative data from experts. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze quantitative data while qualitative data was analyzed using thematic data analysis. The study findings are that visibility and comprehension of traffic signs and markings correlate positively with favourable attitudes toward road safety and self-reported compliance with traffic regulations. The results revealed that traffic visual communication can create synergies, amplify impact, and drive sustainable change in Boda-boda riders' road safety practices. In conclusion, there is a need for innovative multifaceted communication intervention to enhance safety amongst Boda-boda motorcyclists in Kenyan cities.

This study sought to investigate the influence of information, education and communication on road safety amongst Boda-boda motorcyclists in Kenyan cities. Road safety has become a major concern with over 1.35 million people losing their lives worldwide annually and over 4,000 people losing their lives in Kenya. Human behavior on the road causes 90 per cent of death and injury amongst road users with Boda-boda motorcyclists contributing 58 per cent of all road accidents in Kenya. This study was anchored on the social cognitive theory, the safety culture theory and the uses and gratification theory. The study used a pragmatic philosophical paradigm with a convergent parallel design of the mixed method research. Stratified sampling and simple random sampling were used to draw the target population of 399 Boda-boda motorcyclists from the four cities in Kenya. Interviews were conducted with twelve key informants. Quantitative data was collected from the motorcyclists by use of semi-structured questionnaires while key informant interviews were used to collect the qualitative data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze quantitative data while qualitative data was analyzed using thematic data analysis. The findings show that influence of information, education and communication has a significant impact on predicting road safety hence showing a potential synergistic effect between the two factors. In conclusion, behavior change communication interventions aimed at Boda-boda motorcyclists significantly contribute to road safety. Tailored educational materials and training programs were recommended as a unique way to address the needs and literacy levels of Boda-boda motorcyclists.