| dc.description.abstract | Road Traffic Crashes (RTC) are major causes of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. While
previous studies had reported increases in RTC among long distance drivers and had associated
this with their risky behaviours, not many have focused on the distribution and determinants of
RTC among long distance drivers in Ibadan metropolis. Information about the distribution of the
risk factors of RTC among this group of drivers could be used to design, implement and evaluate
interventions to reduce the risk. Hence, this study was conducted to describe the distribution of
RTC by place, time of occurrence, characteristics of persons involved and identify factors
associated with RTC among long distance drivers in Ibadan metropolis.
Using a cross-sectional study, a two-stage sampling technique was used to select 594 consenting
long distance drivers from 5 out of 12 major motor parks in Ibadan metropolis. A pretested
interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic
characteristics, driving history, knowledge of road safety measures, perceived
effects of use of psychoactive drugs on the safety behaviours and mobile phone when driving.
Also incorporated in the questionnaire were history of RTC including place and time of
occurrence of the last crash. Knowledge of road safety measures was scored based on drivers’
understanding of 7 road safety measures comprising speed and the six road safety signs, with
scores ≥4 indicating good knowledge. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square
test and logistic regression with level of significance set at 0.05.
Respondents were males, with median age of 42.0 years (range: 20.0-73.0 years). Secondary
education was the highest level of education attained by 38.0%. Most (96.3%) had been driving
for more than five years and 77.7% had poor knowledge of road safety measures. About 23.6%
reported the use of mobile phone when driving while, 38.7% and 33.8% reported current use of
kolanut and alcohol respectively. The life time prevalence of RTC was 35.5% while 16.2%
reported having had at least one RTC in the year preceding the study. The RTCs occurred mainly
on narrow roads (25.0%) and bad portions of tarred roads (32.0%) with peak occurrence on
weekends (Fridays- 20.0% and Saturdays- 21.3%) and in the afternoon (33.1%). Significantly
higher proportions of drivers aged ≤39 years (23.9%), those with no formal education (29.9%),
those who reported the use of mobile phone when driving (27.9%), those who reported alcohol
(21.9%) and Kola nut use (19.6%) were involved in RTC in the last one year. A significant
predictor of the last episode of RTC in the last one year was alcohol use (OR=1.8, CI=1.1-2.9).
Road Traffic Crashes occurred mostly among long distance drivers who were young, nonformally
educated, alcohol users and mobile phone users when driving. Discouraging the use of
alcohol, kolanut and mobile phones when driving, as well as the implementation of road safety
education programme among young and uneducated drivers is recommended. | en_US |
