Abstract:
Introduction: Safety practices by road users are important for road safety. The
actions or inactions of drivers can result in Road Traffic crashes6.To assess safety
practices and related factors among commercial long distance bus drivers in Benin
City, Edo State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study
design was used, and data was collected from 315 commercial long distance bus
drivers and their vehicles from January to October, 2015 using a structured
interviewer administered questionnaires and focus group discussion guide.
Respondents were recruited using systematic random sampling technique. Data
was analysed using SPSS version 20. Results: Data showed that 114 (36.2%) were
within the age group of 31-40 years. Most of the respondents 272 (86.3%) were
married, almost all the respondents 311 (98.7%) were males, while, 4 (1.3%) were
females. More than half of the respondents 172 (54.6%) had a secondary level of
education, 112 (35.6%) had a primary level of education while 12 (3.8%) had no
formal education. About a quarter 83 (26.3%) drive at a safe speed of 80-100
km/hour as approved by the Nigerian high way code. More than two thirds of the
respondents 216 (68.6%) drive at a speed between >100-120 km/hour, while 12
(3.8%) drive above 120 km/hour. Majority of the respondents 235 (74.6%) were
observed using seat belt as a safety practice while 80 (25.4%) were not using their
seat belt. There was a statistically significant association between the respondents’
level of education and their use of seat belts (p = 0.002). Other safety practices done
by respondents were daily vehicle checks 272 (86.3%), obeying traffic rules 284
(90.2%), Unsafe practices done by drivers include violation of road traffic signs
(48.4%), violation of parking regulations (45.2%) , Use of mobile phones (48.9%),
having a soft drink while driving (23.5%), putting a child on the front seat while
driving (3.5%), drinking alcohol while driving (2.5%), smoking while driving
(1.6%), reading newspapers while driving (0.6%). Conclusion: The common safety
practice seen in commercial drivers included, use of seat belt, driving within speed
limits, daily vehicle checks, obeying traffic rules, avoidance of substance use and
avoidance of use of mobile phones while driving. Recommendations include
encouraging drivers organizing quarterly meetings, workshops and seminars for
commercial long-distance drivers on safety practices during driving, prevention
and control of road traffic accidents and promoting and ensuring drivers’
compliance with traffic rules.
