Analysis of Road Traffic Crash Along Lokoja – Abuja Highway, Nigeria

Analysis of Road Traffic Crash Along Lokoja – Abuja Highway, Nigeria

Chapter One

AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The aim of the study is to analyze the characteristics of Road Traffic Crashes along Abuja – Lokoja highway between 2003- 2012. Specifically, the study seeks to achieve the following objectives:

1. To determine the rate of occurrence of RTCs along Abuja-Lokoja road between 2003- 2012 time period;
2. To examine the pattern of RTC along the two segments of Abuja-Lokoja highway
3. To analyze the characteristics of road traffic accident along Abuja- Lokoja highway between 2003- 2012;
4. To analyze the fatalities of RTC along the route between the 2003- 2013 time period; and
5. Identify the vehicle types involved in RTC along Abuja-Lokoja highway.

CHAPTER TWO

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK AND LITERATURE REVIEW

  INTRODUCTION

The chapter examined relevant theories put forward to explain road traffic accidents causation. The chapter also examined some relevant literature on the phenomena of road traffic accidents in Nigeria and pattern of road traffic accident fatalities. Lastly, the chapter reviewed literature relating to causes and effects of road traffic accident.

Conceptual Framework

A handful of theories have explained Road Traffic Accidents causations. Some of the best known theories used are System theory and Risk theory.

System Theory

The systems perspective views human performance as a function of many interacting system-wide factors. In the context of human error and accident causation, for example, it is now accepted that errors are a consequence of „systems‟ failure rather than merely aberrant psychological factors within individuals. Human error is thus no longer always seen as the primary cause of accidents; rather, it is treated as a consequence of latent failures residing within the wider system (Reason, 2000). In the road safety context, elements of the system beyond road users, such as vehicle design and condition, road design and condition, road policies, and so on, all shape drivers behaviour on the road.

The systems-based models has now become the most prominent and widely accepted in explaining the causes of accident (Aderamo 2013). Systems-based accident analysis and investigation, described also in the „Swiss model‟, Reason, (2000) has been applied with significant success in a range of safety critical domains such as in road transort, aviation, process control, rail transport and in a range of other domains which they have been applied successfully.

Risk Theory

Risk theory has also been used in the description of accident causation. Risk can be defined as the effect of uncertainty on object whether positive or negative. Its management is followed by coordinated economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability and impact of unfortunate events (Rund mo,2004;Moen,2005;Hubbard,2009) or to maximize the realization of opportunities. Risks can come from uncertainty in financial markets, project failure, legal liabilities, credit risk, accidents, natural causes and disasters as well as deliberate attacks from an adversary. Road traffic accidents risk, according to Dejoy (1989), it is a function of four elements. The first is the exposure or amount of movement or travel within the system by different users or a given population density. The second is the underlying probability of crash, given a particular exposure. The third is the probability of injury given a crash. The fourth element is the outcome of injury. Risk can also be explained by human error (Rasmussen, 1999; Reason, 2000) kinetic energy, tolerance of human body and post-crash care (Bustide et al, 1989).

Lupton (1999) also asserts that risks can be seen from four perspectives. These are the rationalists, realists, constructionists and middle positions. The rationalists see risks as real world phenomena to be measured and estimated by statistics, prioritized by normative decision theory and controlled by scientific management. The realists‟ sees risks as objective hazards or threats that exist and can be estimated independently of social and cultural processes but that may be distorted or biased through social and cultural frameworks of interpretation. The constructionists see nothing as a risk in itself, rather, what is understood to be a risk. The constructionists see it as the product of historically, socially and politically contingent ways of seeing. Proponents of the middle positions between realist and constructionists theories sees risk as an objective hazard or threats that is inevitably mediated through social and cultural processes and can never be known in isolating from these processes (Jaeger et al., 2001; Horden, 2004).

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CHAPTER THREE:

STUDY AREA AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

  INTRODUCTION

This chapter presents the physical environment of the study area and also discussed the methods used in generating the primary and secondary data used for the study.

THE STUDY AREA

The Abuja-Lokoja highway is located in the heart of Nigeria at the southern part of the Federal Capital Territory and the northern part of Kogi State. The road covers a total length of about 186 kilometer (Federal Capital Development Authority, 2006) stretch Abuja-Lokoja highway, beginning from Zuba to Lokoja. This stretch cut across many villages and towns in Federal Capital Territory and Kogi state, this include: Zuba, Gwagwalada, Kwali, Yangoji, Gada-Biu, Abaji, Kotonkarfe, Gegu-beki and Lokoja among others. (Fig 3.1) The road links the entire southwest, east and southern states of Nigeria to FCT through Lokoja the capital of Kogi state. The route is a single lane highway (dualization presently ongoing) and one of the most critical roads in the country being the major link between the north and the south for the movement of people and goods through road transport. The road is also very significant to the survival of the nation because it boosts economic activities in the country and therefore one of the busiest roads in Nigeria today. The road is currently undergoing dualization which is about 70% completed as at December (2014).

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION

 INTRODUCTION

In this chapter, the data generated and/or gathered from survey research were analysed and result presented.

 

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION

 INTRODUCTION

This chapter provide the summary of major findings, make conclusion and proffer some recommendations on the basis of the findings made in the study.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

The aim and objectives of this study centred on the analysis of road traffic crashes on Abuja – Lokoja highway, as highlighted from the onset of the work, the analysis is based on reports of road traffic crash from year to year over a period of ten

(10) years time frame (2003 – 2012) showing types of vehicles involved and periods of the day it commonly occurs. The study used both primary and secondary sources of data. The primary sources of data (questionnaire) were obtained using quota and simple random sampling technique on the respondents at the seven (7) motor parks. Secondary sources of data were collected from the records of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on reported crash cases, its causes, vehicles involved and time from 2003 – 2012. The data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistic and trend analysis involving tables of percentage, line graphs and histogram. The study came up with several findings which are;

• That human related factors are responsible for majority of crash cases on the

These causes range from loss of control; speed limit violation and wrong overtaking are classified as drivers‟ recklessness and refusal to obey traffic rules. This agreed with the study of Bako and Musa (2011) in their study of RTC occurrence on selected roads in urban Zaria used a combination of questionnaire survey, hospital and FRSC record to determine the rate of RTC occurrence per day, month and year in urban Zaria, the result attributed major causes of RTC to drivers recklessness, refusal to obey traffic regulations. This study also agreed with the work of Dawan and Obieikhalu (2011) study on the analysis of the major causes and costs of RTC in FCT. The study identified more drivers‟ related causes of RTC which include; dangerous driving, speed violation, overtaking, traffic violation and road hazards violation.

• That redesigning and expansion of the road will serve as a major effective measureto reduce crash rates on the
• Thatcars and buses are vehicle types that frequently involve in crases on the  However, there was a high record of motorcycles crashes between Zuba and Abaji segment of the road.

• Thethree classified types of crash cases by FRSC (fatal, major and serious) occurred on the two segments of the Abuja – Lokoja highway; the study shows that serious type of crash cases are predominantly recorded across the segments of the
• The rate of crash casualties was examined and the study revealed that more personsinvolved in crashes on the two segments of the road were injured than the number of persons that were killed by crashes on the
• Finally, the time of crash occurrence cases on the road were analysed by the studybased on each segment of the road and found that majority of the crash cases on the road occurred during the daytime particularly between from 6am – 6pm along the classified

RECOMMENDATIONS

Arising from the findings above the following recommendations were offered to reduce the level of RTC along Lokoja- Abaji- Zuba highways.

1. Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other government organisations involvein traffic management in Nigeria should improve their efforts at sensitising and educating the public especially the drivers on the need for proper behaviour while on steering. Since the driver of a vehicle is the most important determinant of the occurrence of an crash, the quality of drivers on the roads in the study area cannot be over-emphasised. Consequently, training and retraining of drivers on defensive driving, Highway Code understanding, attitude enhancement should be a basic effort towards reducing RTC. The training and retraining of drivers constitute a formidable means of effectively dealing with the issue of road traffic crash
2. Regular monitoring and patrol by FRSC and VIO with the objective of checkingthe excesses of drivers along the routes should be intensified, with particular focus on the Abaji – Lokoja axis, where the road is more narrow/ winding and where more causalities were
3. It is evident that the traffic carrying capacity of the road has been exceeded,judging by the volume of vehicles that ply the road on a daily basis. Therefore, the dualization effort that is on-going on the study area should be intensified. This will increase the capacity of the road to accommodate more traffic, thereby reducing vehicle competition for space on the
4. Thestokeholders, drivers, passengers, unions (NURTW) and NGOs can also help in sensitising and educating the public on the need for proper behaviour while on steering.

 CONCLUSION

Road traffic crash, a well documented consequence of motorization is the leading cause of deaths in Nigeria. While crashes occur in all modes of transport, including air and rail the degree and magnitude of road traffic crashes on the road mode is indeed alarming, especially with the fact that, it involves the young and active age bracket of the population. Effort at bringing down the tide of RTC is the responsibility of all as living safely is a challenge that must be accepted by everyone if we are to continue to move forward in an ever-changing society. Generally, Nigerians have been found to exhibit nonchalant attitudes to traffic regulations, as such traffic offence has become a regular behavioural tendency among various classes of road users. Thus, an obvious policy question is how to increase the level of compliance of road user‟s with traffic regulations so as to reduce the level of traffic offences. There is need to create avenues through which road users‟ behaviour can be improved upon in order to conform to existing road safety norms.

This study has therefore contributes to the search for policy actions on road safety management. In this regard, the study concludes that we must emphasize that within the variable traffic equation, one constant element remains which is the human being behind the wheels. Roads can be built or improved, and vehicles may be better designed to operate under adverse conditions, while a more forgiving environment for transport can be created, but shaping and reconstructing human behaviour remains a major challenge. This understanding and consideration must form the focus of all road safety management actions in the country and this is a wake-up call to all road users in Nigeria.

References

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