Determinants of road traffic crashes among intercity commercial drivers in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Road traffic crashes are a common cause of preventable injury and death worldwide including in Nigeria.
Objective: This study assessed the determinants of road traffic crashes among intercity commercial drivers in Ile‑Ife, Nigeria.
Methods: This was a descriptive cross‑sectional study design. Three hundred and fifty commercial drivers completed an interviewer‑administered questionnaire on the occurrence and determinants of road traffic crashes. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results: The respondents were male, with a mean age of 45.6 (10.6) years, married (88.9%), had secondary education (57.4%) and earned above $5/month (94.3%). Only 28.3% attended driving school, 26.9% started driving <10 years and 65.4% drove more than 8 h daily with morning hours considered the busiest (63.4%). Over one‑third (36.7%) of the respondents had experienced road traffic crashes with 86.7% driving when crashes occurred. The identified causes of road traffic crashes include bad roads (37.5%), burst tyre (18.8%), over‑speeding (18%) and brake failure (16.4%). Other causes include driving fatigue/sleeping while driving (14.1%), driving at night (14.1%) and environmental factors (13.3%). The outcome of road traffic crashes includes vehicular damage (75%), injury to the passenger (45.3%) and driver (38.3%) with fatal (13.3%). The determinants of road traffic crashes include young age (adjusted odd ratio [AOR] = 8.17; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.15–17.7; P = 0.001), using sedatives (AOR = 6.49; 95% CI = 2.91–14.46; P = 0.001), alcohol use (AOR = 17.76; 95% CI = 8.72 36.16; P = 0.001), night driving (AOR = 3.10; 95% CI = 1.41–6.78; P = 0.005) and driving over 8 h per day (AOR = 2.78; 95% CI = 1.40–5.53; P = 0.004).
Conclusion: Road traffic crashes were common among young commercial intercity drivers with causes varying from human, mechanical and environmental factors. Strategy to reduce these factors will improve road safety among commercial drivers.