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Driver-Related Risk Factors in Commercial Motorcycle (Okada) Crashes in Benin City, Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Pius Ehiawaguan Iribhogbe  and
Emeka Danielson Odai
Pius Ehiawaguan Iribhogbe*
Affiliation:
1Consultant Surgeon (Trauma and Critical Care), Department of Surgery, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria
Emeka Danielson Odai
Affiliation:
2Senior Registrar, Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria
*
Consultant Surgeon (Trauma and Critical Care)Department of SurgeryUniversity of Benin Teaching HospitalPMB 1111Benin City, Nigeria E-mail: ekalume2002@yahoo.com
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Abstract

Introduction:

There has been global concern regarding road traffic injuries. Motorcyclists constitute a high proportion of fatalities in road traffic crashes. Commercial motorcyclists (Okadas) constitute a unique group in this regard. The purpose of this study was to evaluate driver-related risk factors in Okada accidents in Benin City, Nigeria.

Methods:

This was a prospective study. Interviewers administered questionnaires that were used to assess Okada drivers during a two-month period (November–December 2006).

Results:

A total of 996 Okada drivers were interviewed, 995 males and one female. Their ages ranged from 16–80 years with a mean age of 36.4 ±2.4 years. In the majority of cases, the maximum educational level achieved was primary or secondary. The majority of Okada drivers (82.8%) took to the Okada business as a last resort. Driver's licenses for Okada operation were possessed by 73.5% of drivers, but only 27.2% had taken a road test before being given a license. No form of training on the use of Okadas was received by 45% of drivers before they commenced operations. Crash helmets were owned by 56.4%, but they did not use them on a regular basis. Inconvenience was the reason provided for poor compliance by 52.7% of drivers. Regular intake of alcohol was present in 39.8% of drivers.

Conclusions:

Okada drivers are mainly young males with a low level of education who are ill-prepared and ill-equipped for the road. This is a recipe for traffic crash-related injuries and fatal motorcycle crashes. There is an urgent need for job creation, better licensing procedures, road safety education, national legislation, and enforcement of crash helmet laws as well as alcohol breath tests for Okada drivers in Nigeria.

Keywords

accidentsBenin CitymotorcycleNigeriaOkada
Type
Brief Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 24 , Issue 4 , August 2009 , pp. 356 - 359
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2009

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