Analysis Of Road Traffic Accident In Major Cities Of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Road traffic accidents’ statistics in Nigeria revealed a serious and growing problem with absolute fatality

rate and casualty figures rising rapidly. The challenges of road traffic accidents in Nigeria have not left

Akwa Ibom State untouched as the State also shares in the pandemic of frequent loss of lives of her

citizenry. Akwa Ibom State has three major urban areas – Uyo, Ikot Ekpene and Eket. In the recent past, the

urban areas were identified by different types of road traffic collisions as a result of poor road way

character. In Uyo for instance, “rear-end” collision especially at poor junctions and collisions involving

pedestrian and motorcyclist (Okada) were very common. Head-on collision was very rampant in Ikot

Ekpene while Eket experience “run-off” road traffic crashes. Now, significant road improvements have

been recorded in all the urban areas including the replacement of Okada by Tricycle (Keke) in Uyo

metropolis. However, it is not clear whether there is significant change in the pattern and nature of road

traffic accidents in the area as was speculated because there are no current literatures on road traffic

accidents in the area. The study aimed at analyzing the nature and pattern of road traffic accidents in the

three major urban areas of Akwa Ibom State. The objectives were to: (i) examine the nature of road traffic

accidents in the study area, (ii) determine the predominant factors responsible for road traffic accidents in

the areas, (iii) examine the influence of each of the contributory factors to road traffic accidents in the areas

and (iv) determine whether there are differences in the rate of road traffic accidents in the areas. Survey

research was designed in this study. Both primary and secondary data were used in the study. Primary data

were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire and interviews. Secondary data which include

records of road traffic accidents in Akwa Ibom State from 1990 - 2012 were obtained mainly from

published materials by the Federal Road Safety Commission Annual Reports. A total of four hundred (400)

copies of questionnaire were administered across the three urban areas of the state. The purposive and

simple random sampling techniques were used in the study. The Taro Yamane formula for the derivation of

finite population was used to obtain the sample size of 400 respondents from a population of 795,436

which is a total population of Uyo, Ikot Ekpene and Eket urban areas. Road traffic personnel (Road Safety,

Traffic Warden, The Police and Civil Defense), motorist and urban residents formed the sample population

for the study. A total number of 385 copies of questionnaires were completed and returned representing

96.3% utilization. The study shows that there was an upward and downward pattern in the rate of road

traffic accidents in the urban areas from 1990 to 2006. The rate increases from 1990 – 1993 in Uyo urban

and between 1991 – 1993 in Ikot Ekpene urban and between 1997 – 1999 and 2001 – 2003 in Eket urban

while the rate decreases generally from 2007 to 2012 in the entire area. The study revealed that the

predominant factors responsible for road traffic accidents in the area include; increased population, average

road width, average number of lanes, presence of road safety, dangerous driving, dangerous overtaking,

sleeping on steering, route violation, night journey, traffic signs violation, driving under the influence of

alcohol, overloading, traffic light violation, use of gsm phone while driving, tire burst, break failure,

mechanically deficient vehicle, stationary vehicle/ obstruction, bad road and poor weather. The study

shows the influence of the contributory factors in descending order thus; presence of road safety (0.985),

night journey (0.960), sleeping on steering (0.953), traffic light violation (0.898), traffic signs violation

(0.889), increased population (0.880), route violation (0.866), dangerous overtaking (0836), stationary

vehicle/ obstruction (0.835), average number of lanes (0.806), driving under alcoholic influence (0.802),

break failure (0.784), bad roads (0.701), average road width (0.688), dangerous driving (0.672), poor

weather (0.660), tire burst (0.343), mechanically deficient vehicle (0.315), use of GSM phone while driving

(0.295) and overloading (0.183). The study also revealed that there was significant differences in the rate of

road traffic accidents in the three urban areas (F = 9.726, p < 0.05 significant level). The study recommends

constant training of drivers to ensure adherence to road traffic regulations. Adequate funding of traffic

personnel/ operations to aid contemporary/ practical approach in the management of road traffic system,

and the adoption of preventive measures through the use of road design among others.