700 motorcycles seized: in Ouagadougou, the "I forgot my helmet" excuse is no longer acceptable.

The morning of Thursday, October 8, 2026, was particularly eventful on the roads of Ouagadougou. In the space of four hours, the municipal police seized 700 motorcycles and three tricycles during an operation to check helmet use.

The checks, carried out between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., primarily targeted users riding without helmets. According to the municipal police, approximately 80% of those stopped were students.

Some tried to justify their situation by forgetting their helmet, while others were riding with construction helmets, which do not meet the requirements for driving two-wheeled vehicles.

For those in charge of the operation, this phase comes after two years dedicated to raising awareness among road users about the mandatory helmet law. The stated objective now is to enforce the existing regulations in order to reduce the risks associated with traffic accidents.

Municipal Police Controller Mohamed Koffi Ayechewou reminds everyone that the recovery of a seized motorcycle is conditional upon the presentation of an approved helmet, the payment of a fine of 3,000 CFA francs and the presentation of the vehicle documents.

Through these checks, the Municipal Police intend to strengthen compliance with road safety rules in the capital, with particular attention paid to the many pupils and students who travel daily by motorcycle.

Yolande Bazié