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The Sierra Leone Police (SLP), in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), has engaged the executive of the Sierra Leone Commercial Motor Bike Riders Union (BRU) in the Eastern Region on the importance of wearing protective crash helmets as authorities prepare to enforce the mandatory use of helmets for motorbike riders and passengers.
The engagement, which took place in Kenema on Wednesday, 4 March 2026, comes ahead of the nationwide enforcement of the crash helmet regulation scheduled to take effect on Monday, 9 March 2026.
The Regional Police Commander East, Francis Brima Meinday, met with the BRU Eastern Region executive and representatives from the road safety authority to discuss the upcoming enforcement and the need for strict compliance with road safety regulations.
During the meeting, AIG Meinday commended the union for the vital transportation services its members provide across communities in the country. He, however, urged the union’s leadership to intensify awareness among their members on the importance of wearing crash helmets to safeguard their lives.
He noted that accident records in the Eastern Region reveal that many riders and passengers lose their lives due to severe head injuries resulting from failure to wear protective helmets.
The Regional Commander also reminded the union’s executive about the existing Memorandum of Understanding between the Sierra Leone Police and the Bike Riders Union, stressing the importance of adhering to road safety rules to reduce road traffic accidents and fatalities.
Supporting the call for compliance, a representative of the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority emphasised that reducing road accidents requires the collective effort and responsibility of all stakeholders, including riders, passengers, and enforcement agencies.
Responding on behalf of the union, the Kenema District BRU Chairman, Patrick Brima Mando, expressed appreciation to the police for prioritising the welfare and safety of motorbike riders.
He acknowledged that the use of crash helmets is not a new requirement for the union but raised concerns about possible health issues and resistance from some members of the public. Despite these concerns, he assured the authorities of the union’s commitment to ensuring compliance with the regulation.
Mr. Mando also appealed to the authorities to adopt a compassionate and professional approach during the enforcement process in order to prevent unnecessary confrontations between riders and law enforcement personnel.
The meeting concluded with a collective agreement among the police, the road safety authority, and the Bike Riders Union to work together to ensure the smooth implementation of the mandatory crash helmet regulation when enforcement begins on March 9.
