Socio-economic characteristics and driving behaviour of commercial drivers in southwestern Nigeria cities

Abstract

The study examined the relationship between the socio-economic characteristics of commercial drivers and their level of safety in Southwestern Nigeria. 600 structured questionnaires were administered to commercial drivers at motor parks in selected cities in the study area. Both descriptive and correlation analysis were used for data presentation. Findings indicated that about 60% of the drivers were below 45years while over 90% of them have no more than secondary education-out of which 27.5% have no formal education. Most of them are paid daily which they considered too meager. The age of vehicle showed that more than 65% were over 10 years old and over 95% of these vehicles are fairly used imported vehicles called "Tokunbo"; which is ridden on equally fairly used imported tyres. Vehicle defects accounted for 43.6% of the causes of accidents from drivers' perspective. Similarly, there is inverse relationship between level of education and cases of road accidents. The paper calls for proactive drivers' education and training as well as effective law enforcement in order to reduce the level of carnage on Nigerian roads.