Assessment of compliance level of automobile drivers to traffic rules and regulations in Bida, Niger State.

Abstract

The incident of traffic accidents involving automobile drivers currently flouting traffic rules typifies many urban roads in Nigeria and has turned into a key public concern in Nigeria. This study focused on an attempt to assess the obedience level of automobile drivers to traffic rules and regulations in Bida, Niger State, Nigeria. A descriptive and observatory research approach was used in data collection and analysis. Primary data was sourced through the administration of well-structured questionnaires randomly to 400 automobile drivers within designated traffic points and traffic counts were conducted in 7 major traffic corridors. Secondary data were obtained from traffic records at the FRSC command unit and VIO offices in Bida. Specifically, five variables were used in the form of seatbelt usage, vehicle number plate, overloading, route violation and wrong parking as parameters to determine levels of automobile drivers’ compliance in Bida. Fallouts of the observation were treated with descriptive analysis in the form of tables and charts. Findings reveal that 80% of respondents were male, 20% Female, 49% were within the age category of 31-40 years, 12% had no formal education and 19.5% were unemployed. Commercial motorcyclists and tricycles violate traffic the most with 41.7% of motorists apprehended. It was observed that in all the five variables used to measure the compliance level of automobile drivers, the proportion returns were very low with 1.3% and 0.7% accrued for seatbelt compliance and wrong parking, while, 1.4%, 1% and 2.2% for number plate, route violation and overloading respectively. Motorist’s awareness of traffic rules and regulations accounts for 58%. Thus, the study recommends the need for a robust, wide-ranging and continual education and enforcement programme on traffic safety in Bida by FRSC and VIO officials. Automobile drivers must be compelled by agencies controlling and regulating traffic like FRSC and VIO within the ambit of the law to strictly observe the use of seat belts, number plates, overloading, parking standards and route violations.