In a recent assessment, the Burkinabé police reported that nearly 95% of motorcyclists in the country's capital, Ouagadougou, are now wearing helmets, a significant increase from previous years. This development comes after a series of awareness campaigns and a strict enforcement of the helmet law that took effect on October 1, 2026. The police conducted a field visit with journalists to assess the situation on the ground.
The assessment, which covered six control sites in Ouagadougou, revealed that the majority of motorcyclists were indeed wearing helmets. The sites visited included the CCPO, the intersection near the Palace of the Moogho Naaba, the roundabout of the Battle of Rail, the traffic light at the Gounghin market, the roundabout in front of the Schiphra hospital, and a control point at Balkouy on the way to Pô.
According to the Director-General of the National Police in the Kadiogo region, Aguima Abdoulaziz Yonli, the police have been working tirelessly to enforce the helmet law. He stated that since the start of the awareness campaign, dubbed "Operation Bouclier Tête," over 3,000 people have been stopped and controlled for not wearing helmets. Of these, approximately 1,600 were fined and had to present a helmet to retrieve their vehicles.
The police report that the number of violators has decreased significantly over the past few days, with 2,000 offenders on the first day, 600 on the second, and around 500 on the third day. Yonli attributed this decrease to the awareness campaigns and the strict enforcement of the law. He also revealed that the police collected 3,561,000 CFA francs in fines from the 1,600 violators.
Motorcyclists who were fined during the operation had to either produce a helmet on the spot or have one brought to them by a family member or friend. Some motorcyclists expressed ignorance of the law, stating that they were not aware that their passengers also had to wear helmets. Others claimed they could not afford to buy helmets.
The police are continuing their awareness campaigns and enforcement of the helmet law, with plans to extend the operation to cover passengers on motorcycles as well. Yonli emphasized that wearing a helmet is not only a civic duty but also a patriotic act that can save lives. He noted that statistics show a reduction in deaths related to accidents since the helmet law was enforced.
The Burkinabé government has set a goal of achieving 100% compliance with the helmet law, and the police are working towards this goal. With the continued enforcement of the law and awareness campaigns, it is expected that the number of motorcyclists wearing helmets will continue to increase, reducing the risk of accidents and saving lives on the country's roads.
Key points
- The Burkinabé police report near 95% compliance with helmet law for motorcyclists.
- Over 3,000 people have been stopped and controlled for not wearing helmets since the start of the awareness campaign.
- The police collected 3,561,000 CFA francs in fines from 1,600 violators.
