CAUSES OF ROAD ACCIDENTS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Road transport is a critical structure for economic development of a country. It influences the pace, structure and pattern of development. Nigeria has one of the largest road network in Africa. However, Road safety is an issue of national concern. Surge in population and motorization in the country along with expansion of road network contributes to the number of road accidents, injuries and fatalities.

Road accidents create negative impact on the economy, public health and the general welfare of the people. Road accidents are human tragedy involving tremendous human suffering in terms of premature deaths, injuries and loss of productivity, etc. It is heartening that for the first time in two consecutive years, i.e. 2012 and 2013, there was decline in number of road accidents, the number of persons killed and the number of persons injured in road accidents.

Road Accidents, deaths and injuries which occur each year need not happen. Significant reduction in accident rates is possible only by a wide variety of improvements in design of vehicles, operating environment and infrastructure, and enforcement of safety regulations and standards.

The current issue includes various dimensions and magnitude of road accidents in India and brings into focus the challenges relating to the prevention of road accidents and their impact. The data and analysis on road accidents contained in this volume would help to create awareness and assist in decision making in the area of road safety. I hope, the document would be useful for policy makers, academia, citizens, and civil society organizations working In areas that have an influence on road safety.

An accident, also known as an unintentional injury, is an undesirable incidental and unplanned event that could have been prevented had circumstances leading up to the accident been recognized, and acted upon, prior to its occurrence. Most scientists who study unintentional injury avoid using the term "accident" and focus on factors that increase risk of severe injury and that reduce injury incidence and severity (Robertson, 2015).

It is well known that traffic accidents are of high importance to the public health spectrum in the world. Moreover, in developing countries such as Nigeria, the mortality rates from road traffic accidents are rather high compared to other countries in this region. Media reports reveal that Nigeria's road accident's is very high, compared to other developing countries. In 2001, Nigeria was rated as the second highest road traffic accident prone nation among six West African countries, with 73 deaths per 1000 accidents. (Sarpong, 2011).

Chidoka (2009) the corp marshal of the federal road safety noted during a media briefing that 5,157 lives were lost through road accidents in Nigeria in the last three years and  according to the statistical break down out of a total of 18,308 accidental report, 5,157 were recorded while a total of 13,251 person sustained different forms of injuries in which he further noted that 2,119 accidents and 301 deaths were as a result of tanker driver and road haulage trucks between January and March 2009. According to Sangofadeji (2011) the chief executive officer, Ogun state traffic compliance and enforcement corps (TRACE) asserted that 173 of  191 road accidents recorded in 2010 involved in motor vehicles, while 18 were motorcycle accidents and a  total of 74 people died in road accidents across Ogun state last year. However, all road users are potential victims of road accident resulting into injuries but commoner in those whose attitudes portrayed to be selfish, hostile, choleric, fool hardly, abuses, substances and physically unfit (Awesu, 2007; freeman, Geshen and King, 1990; Udoh and Haastrup, 2006; European bank for reconstruction and development).  Salawu (2008) opined that Nigeria’s high ways transportation system is one of the most complex system in our society with increased traffic accidents that leads to negative effect on the road users. And for many years, injuries and fatalities resulting from the use of all automobiles were accepted gradually rather realistically in which a healthy and aggressive social attitude towards road accidents and their prevention is of great importation through educative programmes and procedures.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Road accidents  are increasing with rapid pace and presently these has become one of the leading causes of death in developing countries and the morbidity and mortality burden in developing countries is rising due to a combination of factors such as  rapid motorization, poor road design and traffic infrastructure as well as the behavior of road users (Nantulya and Reich,2002).Thus, In many countries or cities road accidents is critical despite that the rate of accidents are generally less in rural than urban area and yet many people are involved in possession of numerous vehicles accidents such as cars, buses, lorries, motorcycle e.t.c. which usually result to road accidents and bring about some negative impact on development of the environment. Therefore, the researcher would attempt to identify some of these causes, effects as well as suggest better ways to solve the problems confronting road accidents among automobile road users in Ijebu-Ode local government Area of Ogun State.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The general aim of this study is to ascertain the perceived causes of road accident among automobile road users. Below are the specific objective;

1.        Ascertain if ignorance of basic safety rules by the road users is a significant determinant of road accidents among automobile road users in Ijebu-Ode local Government Area of Ogun State.

2.        Determine is ineffectiveness of road wardens is a significant determinant of road accidents among automobile road users in Ijebu-Ode local Government Area of Ogun State.

3.        Determine if socio-cultural factors are significant determinant of traffic mishap on highways among automobile road users in Ijebu-Ode local Government Area of Ogun State.

1.4      RESEARCH QUESTIONS

]The study found answers to the following questions as highlighted by the researcher:

Will mechanical problems be perceived as significant determinant of road accidents among automobile road users in Ijebu-Ode local Government Area of Ogun State?

1.        Will ignorance of basic safety rules by the road users be perceived as significant determinant of road accidents among automobile road users in Ijebu-Ode local Government Area of Ogun State?

2.        Will ineffectiveness by the road wardens be perceived as significant determinant of road accidents among automobile road users in Ijebu-Ode local Government Area of Ogun State?

3.        Will socio-cultural factors be perceived as significant determinant of traffic mishap on highways among automobile road users in Ijebu-Ode local Government Area of Ogun State?

1.4       RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

H01: Mechanical problems will not be perceived as a significant determinant of road accidents among automobile road users in Ijebu-Ode local Government Area of Ogun State.

H02: Ignorance of basic safety rules by the road users will not be perceived as a significant determinant of road accidents in Ijebu-ode local government Area of Ogun State

H03: Ineffectiveness by the road wardens will not be perceived as a significant determinant of road accidents among automobile road users in Ijebu-Ode local Government Area of Ogun State.

H04: Socio-cultural factors will not be perceived as a significant determinant of traffic mishap on highways in Ijebu-Ode local Government Area of Ogun State.

1.6       SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The relevance of this research work is to examine the perceived determinants of road accidents among automobile road users in Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area of Ogun State. The researcher hopes that findings at the end of the study would suggest better solutions to control the incessant of road accidents on highways in Ijebu-Ode local Government Area of Ogun State. The research study is also equally to make known to road users the different factors that are responsible for road accidents and its effects on environmental development in Ijebu-Ode local government including the efforts made by the government in combating problems associated with road accidents to Promote Healthful living in Ijebu-Ode Metropolis.

1.7 DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study will be delimited to the following:

Traffic compliance and enforcement corps (TRACE).

State hospital Ijebu-Ode local government area of Ogun State.

Descriptive research design will be adopted.

The use of stratified sampling techniques.

The use of self developed structured questionnaire to elicit responses from respondents.

The use of descriptive statistics of frequency count and simple percentages to analyze demographic data as well as the inferential statistic of chi-squares (X2) to test the hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level of significance.

Two (2) trained research assistants.

1.8      LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Responses that were provided by the respondents to some of the questions in the questionnaire were not correct. The attitude of respondents towards filling of the questionnaire was not right which led to incompleted filling of the questionnaire due to time constraints. Effort was made by the researcher to convince and assure respondents that every information supplied will be treated confidentially. Other limitation in the course of this study was adequately taken care of by the researcher.

1.9 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

Automobiles: These are vehicle such as car, buses, Lorries etc.

Collision: Accident in which two vehicles or people crash or collides together.

RAs: road Accidents.

Congestion: This involve traffic congested and pollutant

Victims: sufferer or casualty.

Hostile: opposed or unfriendly attitude.

Mortality: Death rate and dying level.

Choleric: Quick tempered or peevish.

Morbidity: Gloom or diseases.

Accidents: Unfortunate incidence especially harmful event that caused unplanned situation.

Plying: Utilizing the highways.

Road users: people plying the road.

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