Delivering safety of commercial motorcycle operations

Motorcyclists now account for around 350,000 deaths annually, representing roughly 30% of all global road-traffic fatalities—a proportion that has grown sharply in recent years. According to the World Health Organization, motorcycle-related deaths doubled in Africa and rose by two-thirds in the Americas between 2013 and 2023.

The very factors that make commercial motorcyclists so vital—the long hours, constant pressure to meet tight deadlines, and heavy reliance on them for mobility—also increase their exposure to road hazards and heighten their safety risks.

Until now, commercial motorcyclist safety has received little targeted attention, with reforms and regulations often developed in isolation and without drawing on global lessons learned. A new guide, “Safety of Commercial Motorcycles: Guidelines and Good Practices for Governments and the Private Sector,” offers a roadmap for governments and the private sector to tackle these challenges head-on.

Produced by the World Bank’s Global Road Safety Facility (GRSF), the comprehensive guide takes a practical, multi-stakeholder approach to making commercial motorcycling safer for all road users. It is among the first resources dedicated specifically to improving safety conditions in this fast-growing sector.

The guide emphasizes that improving commercial motorcycle safety is a shared responsibility, requiring active participation from a range of stakeholders.