1.1 Introduction
Road accident destroys peoples’ lives and properties. They do occur in different categories, take away peoples’ lives, damaged properties and cause permanent disabilities. Collisions/crashes can occur between vehicles, vehicle and motorbike, vehicle and pedestrian, motorbike and pedestrian, vehicle and animal, motorbike and animal sometimes vehicle can derail and hit electric pole or a building. They are classified as minor or fatal, depends on the degree of crashes/collisions. An accident is an unpleasant, undesirable or damage that happens unexpectedly or by chance. Road accidents has been a treat to the safety of family members and are associated with numerous problems each of which needed to be addressed separately; human, vehicle and environmental factors play roles, before, during and after trauma event. Road traffic accidents are significant causes of death, injuries, disabilities, and property damages in many countries but, the incidence rate is higher in developing countries such as Nigeria (Yordphol, et al., 2011; Kuo, 2011; Sumaila, 2013).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
In the world today, transportation which is the conveyance of goods and passengers from one phase to another or the movement of commuter and their goods, produce and products, and/or they themselves from one location to another have played an important role in the development process, thus, serving as one of the aspects of developmental change indicators and structural well-being of the society and government among other sectors or areas of the world socio-economic development. It provides room not only for transaction of business to take place, market possibility for our goods, produce and products produced, but also makes it possible for such to reach the find consumer(s).
Road transportation is by far the commonest means of transportation in Nigeria when compared to other means like air, rail and water. The technology has made life easy compared to previous means of transportation such as the use of animals during the pre colonial era. Nigerian economy despite its flaws, has afforded a large number of its populace the means to own cars making road traffic a major problem with grave disadvantages.
In Nigeria, road accidents have been a disturbing phenomenon that has constituted a menace. It is generally believed but not statistically proven that the rate of road accidents in Nigeria has geometrically increased. Road accidents are caused by various reasons, ranging from carelessness on the part of the drivers to the deplorable nature of our roads. Put differently, Nigerian roads have become killing fields without protection for their users. Travellers heave a sigh of relief if they make their destinations. The worrisome trend has tremendous negative impact on the nation’s health system as well as its social and economic aspirations. It was estimated that the total number of registered vehicles in Nigeria rose between 1990 – 2006 from 700,000 to 6,000,000 (Umar 2010).
Despite the happiness this brought and change of quality of family lives associated with owning a vehicle, its possession has made so many families bereaved of their breadwinners or lovely ones due to unprecedented rate of road traffic accidents in Nigeria. According to the Federal Road Safety Commission, not less than 88,520 road users lost their lives between 1991 and 2000 alone, most victims being between 20-40 years. There is need to view road accident as a very major issue requiring urgent attention aimed at preventing premature deaths, reducing the health, social and economic impacts it portends to the average Nigerian. This disturbing assertion will be the bedrock of our statistical study on road accidents in Nigeria.
Therefore, in Federal Road Safety Corps Lokoja, Kogi State 2002-2015 where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Statistical Analysis of Road Accidents in Nigeria.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that in Nigeria today, the issue of road accidents have become a teething problem. There has been a major problem of the cardinal factors responsible for road accidents in Nigeria. Another problem is to know if accidents in Nigeria are related to sex, age and educational background of road users. There is also confusion as to the major causes of road accidents in Nigeria. The above problems have been our chief motivators in undertaking this statistical research work.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to Statistical Analyze the Road Accidents in Nigeria using Federal Road Safety Corps Lokoja, Kogi State 2002-2015 as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To know if there any increase in the record of road accidents in Kogi State from 2002-2015 or not.
- To ascertain whether the causes of road accident are unrelated with vehicles.
- To equally know if road accidents in Nigeria are age based.
- To ascertain if there is a statistical significant relationship between educational background and road accidents in Nigeria.
- To know if road accidents in Nigeria are gender based, that is, do female road users fall victim of road accidents than their male counterparts.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Does female road users fall victim of road accidents than their male counterparts?
- Are the causes of road accident related with vehicles?
- Is road accidents in Nigeria age based?
- Is there any increase in the record of road accidents in Kogi State from 2002-2015?
- Is there any significant relationship between educational background and road accidents in Nigeria?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant relationship between age and road accidents in Nigeria.
- H1: There is significant relationship between age and road accidents in Nigeria.
Hypothesis Two
- H0: There is no significant relationship between educational background and road accidents in Nigeria.
- H1: There is significant relationship between educational background and road accidents in Nigeria.
Hypothesis Three
- H0: There is no significant relationship between gender and road accidents in Nigeria.
- H1: There is significant relationship between gender and road accidents in Nigeria.
1.7 Significance of Study
The significance of this study will educate millions of Nigerians on the main causes of road accidents and ways to prevent or reduce them on our roads. Another significance of this study is to know if the number of road accidents has increased overtime. Thirdly, to know if the reported number of road accidents in Nigeria is gender based and also to know if there is a relationship between educational background and road accidents in Nigeria. We are also interested in knowing the major causes of road accidents in Nigeria so as to educate the Nigeria populace.
This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Statistical Analysis of Road Accidents in Nigeria using Federal Road Safety Corps Lokoja, Kogi State 2002-2015 as a case study.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Road Accident: a traffic accident involving vehicles, pedestrians or cyclists.
Accident: an unpleasant event especially in a vehicle, that happens unexpectedly and causes injury or damage
