ROAD TRAFFIC CRASHES AMONG MOTORIZED TWO-WHEELER RIDERS IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES: EPIDEMIOLOGY AND RISK FACTORS, WITH A FOCUS ON MOROCCO
TL;DR
A consistent pattern is documented: MTW riders account for a rising and disproportionate share of road deaths, particularly in rapidly motorizing LMICs where infrastructure, enforcement, and post-crash care have not kept pace with the growth of two-wheeler use.
Abstract
Motorized two-wheeler (MTW) riders are among the most vulnerable road users worldwide, and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) bear a disproportionate share of the resulting deaths and injuries. This review synthesizes epidemiological evidence on MTW-related road traffic crashes across world regions, with a focused analysis of Morocco, where national crash and fatality counts have risen year-on-year since 2022. Drawing on World Health Organization statistics alongside country-level studies from the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Africa, we document a consistent pattern: MTW riders account for a rising and disproportionate share of road deaths, particularly in rapidly motorizing LMICs where infrastructure, enforcement, and post-crash care have not kept pace with the growth of two-wheeler use. In Morocco specifically, National Road Safety Agency (NARSA) data show injury crashes rising from 113,625 in 2022 to 142,247 in 2024, with two- and three-wheeler users now accounting for more than 40% of road deaths.