Effect of poor road network and maintenance on safety and security in Delta State Nigeria: Mixed perceptions in industrialized oil-producing community

Abstract

Background: Factors influencing road transport accidents include human and non-human. The extent that non-human factors increases accidents has yet to exhaustively evaluated, especially in Delta State Nigeria. Objective: To access the perception about road networks. Also, to model the effects of poor road network (PRN) on vehicle repairs; and road maintenance on occupational health and safety (OHS) issues in Delta state, Nigeria. Method: This study adopted a survey approach. Likert scaled questionnaire was used to survey the perception of different stakeholders. The responses were used to model the effects of environmental and mechanical factors of road traffic accidents. ANOVA and regression modelling techniques were performed. Results: This study shows mixed perceptions from respondents. 64% of responses agreed on state of the roads being poor while a lower (49%) indicate insecurity on the roads. Modelling shows over 32% increases in vehicle repairs and OHS concerns attributable to PRN and road maintenance respectively. Conclusion: This report highlights gap in knowledge about road traffic, which calls for OHS education. This educational promotion need is adoptable particularly in low-mid income countries where PRN remains an OHS issue, but also relevant in developed countries as unhealthy driving behaviour is still a factor of drivers’ perceptions.