Driver-Related Risk Factors in Commercial Motorcycle (Okada) Crashes in Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction:There has been global concern regarding road traffic injuries. Motorcyclists constitute a high proportion of fatalities in road traffic crashes. Commercial motorcyclists (Okadas) constitute a unique group in this regard. The purpose of this study was to evaluate driver-related risk factors in Okada accidents in Benin City, Nigeria.Methods:This was a prospective study. Interviewers administered questionnaires that were used to assess Okada drivers during a two-month period (November–December 2006).Results:A total of 996 Okada drivers were interviewed, 995 males and one female. Their ages ranged from 16–80 years with a mean age of 36.4 ±2.4 years. In the majority of cases, the maximum educational level achieved was primary or secondary. The majority of Okada drivers (82.8%) took to the Okada business as a last resort. Driver's licenses for Okada operation were possessed by 73.5% of drivers, but only 27.2% had taken a road test before being given a license. No form of training on the use of Okadas was received by 45% of drivers before they commenced operations. Crash helmets were owned by 56.4%, but they did not use them on a regular basis. Inconvenience was the reason provided for poor compliance by 52.7% of drivers. Regular intake of alcohol was present in 39.8% of drivers.Conclusions:Okada drivers are mainly young males with a low level of education who are ill-prepared and ill-equipped for the road. This is a recipe for traffic crash-related injuries and fatal motorcycle crashes. There is an urgent need for job creation, better licensing procedures, road safety education, national legislation, and enforcement of crash helmet laws as well as alcohol breath tests for Okada drivers in Nigeria.

Injury outcome among helmeted and non-helmeted motorcycle riders and passengers at a tertiary care hospital in north-western Tanzania

“…Studies have shown that the majority of commercial motorcyclists have low level of education and this could be partly attributed by the fact that those who are less educated found themselves with few chances of getting other jobs and thus engage into commercial motorcycling business as a last resort following unemployment regardless of being a risky job (Iribhogbe & Odai, 2009). This observation is reflected in our study where most of riders had either primary or no formal education and the majority of them were unemployed.…”

Commercial motorcycle drivers' perceptions of risk and road safety in urban Nigeria: an explorative study

“…This is as a result of inadequacy of the transportation system, the ability of motorcycles to access remote parts of the cities and towns (Morenikeji & Umaru, 2012;Nwadairo, Ekwe, Akpayak, & Shitta, 2011;Solageberu et al, 2006), and the increase in commercial motorcycles due to high unemployment rates among young people. (Iribhogbe & Odai, 2009;Morenikeji & Umaru, 2012). Mannering and Grodsky (1995) found that motorcycles are about five times more likely to be involved in road crashes than other vehicles and motorcyclists are about 20 times more likely to have a fatal injury than other automobile occupants in relation to mileage traveled.…”

“…In Nigeria over 90% of commercial motorcyclists are not formally trained and do not have the required license to ride, which contributes significantly to the high incidence of traffic injuries among them (Iribhogbe & Odai, 2009;Nwadairo et al, 2011;Olagunju, 2009Olagunju, , 2011. Many of the road rules are also poorly enforced, as many commercial cyclists and passengers do not 5 conform to the crash helmet law (Olagunju, 2009(Olagunju, , 2011Nwadairo et al, 2011;Nzegwu et.…”

“…There are several studies related to commercial motorcyclists and their impact on road traffic injuries in Nigeria with various point of focuses ranging from riders" characteristics and risk factors to the use of psychoactive substances (Gbadamosi, 2006;Iribhogbe & Odai, 2009;Oluwadiya et. al, 2009;Nwadairo et.…”

Prevalence of psychoactive substance use among registered commercial motorcycle operators in Kano, North Western Nigeria: A community study

“…The lifetime prevalence of drug use among the subjects in this study was 19.3%, far lower than most studies reviewed in Nigeria. Studies in southwestern Nigeria (Oluwadiya et al, 2004;Owoaje et al, 2005;Iribhogbe and Odai., 2009) and in Southeastern Nigeria (Adogu et al, 2009) among commercial motorcycle operators showed a higher prevalence of more than 30% of psychoactive substance use among the subjects. These observed differences might be due to socio-cultural differences between Northern and Southern Nigeria.…”