Empirical analysis of Road Safety policy adherence in Nigeria: Seat belt use

Abstract

This research assesses the rate at which road users adhere seat belt use while driving on Nigerian roads, a policy of the Federal Road Safety Corps. Accidents are undesirable. Knowledge of the level of adherence to this FRSC Policy meant to make the road safer is vital. The study span the whole of Nigeria (except the Northeastern Nigeria due to security challenges) using major corridors (highways) that link the six geo-political zones with special interest given to some cities or town along these corridors. Traffic study was done along these corridors from 7am-5pm and the result showed that the use of seatbelts recorded an average of 58 percent level of compliance for car traffic and 60 percent for BATs traffic. It was also noted that the level of compliance dropped during the weekend and FRSC patrols were more on some routes than others which could be a part reason for variation in compliance levels

Assessment of the Statutory Duties of Federal Road Safety Corps Aimed at Reducing Crashes and Carnages in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria

“…There are researches on the safety of roads that have been carried out in the world in general and in Nigeria in particular (Whitelegg,1983;Sunmaila,1992;CARRS -Q,2007;Mahmud & Hoque, 2011;Sunmola, 2012;Alade,2012;Filibus, 2012;Badejo,2014;Faniran & Bello, 2014;Sunmola, 2014;Raji et al,2014;Edorhe, 2014;Stephens et al, 2015;Adenigbo et al,2016); Gbadamosi & Adenigbo, 2017;Ojekunle et al, 2017)and Yusuf et al (2018) as well as Babalola (in press). Whitelegg (1983) argued that Road Traffic accidents will continue to be a severe challenge globally if the misconception of blame apportioning, responsibilities, or engineering inadequacies continued to be used to explain RTAs.…”

“…Also, Raji et al (2014) examined the awareness and compliance of road users to the use of pedestrian crossings in Lagos, Nigeria While Edorhe (2014) looked at the issue of adherence to road safety policy on overloading by the commercial drivers in Akure. Furthermore, Sunmola (2014) assessed the impact of FRSC's public enlightenment programs on the behavior of commercial drivers in urban centers of Nigeria, and Stephens et al (2015) examined the degree to which road users obey the policy of the FRSC on seat belt usage while driving in Nigeria, while Adenigbo et al (2016) on the other hand looked at the various Challenges facing the sustainability operations of Vehicle Inspection Officers in Abuja, Nigeria.…”

“…Ineffective use of road transport often leads to accidents which also result in the loss of lives and properties to the road and non-road users. Furthermore, it also results in a delay to other road users and loss of man-hours among others (Stephens et al, 2015). For the full benefits of road, transportation to be enjoyed by the society in general and the users in particular and the externalities minimised, all roads must be kept safe.…”