72 hours after the start of the 2026-2027 school year, the issue of student transportation is a major concern. Between motorcycle taxis, school buses, walking, or even parents dropping the children off, the most important thing for some is that their child arrives at school on time.
« I always choose schools that have buses for transporting students. It’s more reassuring. »“It’s a real problem,” declares Isaiah, a father. While this parent opts for private schools that provide buses for transporting children, other parents, lacking the means, prefer motorcycle taxis. In the city of Ngaoundéré, the absence of school buses in many schools forces parents and students to rely heavily on motorcycle taxis. Presented as a less expensive solution, this mode of transport nevertheless exposes children to significant risks of road accidents. In this regional capital, many motorcycle taxi drivers do not wear helmets to protect themselves in case of a fall. Awareness campaigns by administrative authorities, such as those organized by the Sub-Prefect of Ngaoundéré 1st last February, are struggling to gain traction, as old habits die hard.
On the city’s main roads, it’s not uncommon to see students crammed behind a driver, without helmets or any other protective gear. Overcrowding, speeding, and risky driver behavior are recurring problems. These practices increase the chances of falls and injuries, especially for younger children whose physical vulnerabilities make their injuries more severe.
In driving schools, few register to obtain a category A driving licence. Most of these young motorcycle taxi drivers learned to drive in the neighborhoods, in laundries or even from the vehicle of a relative or their father.
At the Ngaoundéré Regional Hospital, motorcycle accident injuries accounted for nearly 40% of cases treated in the trauma department in 2025. In January 2026, nearly 300 cases were recorded in this department, and almost 40% involved young people. These consultations included fractures, head injuries, and musculoskeletal injuries.-Tendon injuries often lead to prolonged school absences, high medical costs, and, in the most serious cases, permanent disabilities. « In January, some time ago, we received nearly 300 road traffic accident victims. More than 30% of our emergency cases are road traffic accidents, » said Dr. Gaya Hamza during a meeting with motorcycle taxi drivers initiated by Gustave Patrick Mbiakalé Madola, sub-prefect of the Ngaoundéré 1st district, last February.
Faced with this situation, experts are calling for concrete measures. First, regulations and controls on motorcycle taxis must be strengthened through strict limits on the number of passengers, mandatory helmet use for both drivers and passengers, technical inspections of vehicles, and penalties for violations. Awareness campaigns in neighborhoods, involving motorcycle taxi unions and schools, must be intensified to inform parents, students, and drivers about the risks and best practices.
Local authorities and schools can be involved in finding alternatives through the gradual implementation of group school transport. Motorcycle taxi operators could undergo certified training in safe driving and transporting children.
Faced with these acts, which many people interviewed in the city of Ngaoundéré consider a threat to children’s lives, increased awareness campaigns and driver training in safe driving practices are essential. This, according to the administrative authorities, could reverse the trend. The annual awards for the best motorcycle taxi driver in each district, as is the case in Ngaoundéré 1st, can be a motivating factor for drivers of these two-wheeled vehicles to comply with regulations and adopt best practices.
