Accident Black Spots in Ondo State, Nigeria: Implications for Transportation Planning

Journal of Geography and Planning Sciences Volume 3, Number 2, 2018 ISSN 2006 – 1226

ACCIDENT BLACK SPOTS IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

OGUNBODEDE, Emman Funlayo 1 , OLURA NKINSE, Felix 2 , OLABODE, Abiodun Daniel 1 and ALE, Adeniyi Samuel 1 Department Of Geography & Planning Sciences 1 and Department Of Accountancy2, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria. [email protected]

Abstract Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) is a major source of tragedies. Information at different levels is therefore required for development of warning system for its (RTA’s) reduction. This study therefore identified major accident black spots in Ondo State and evaluated perception of residents around the dominant accident spots (blackspots) in the state The accident black spots in Ondo State were obtained from Ondo State Police Command and supplemented by accident reports from the State office of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and perception of residents within 600 m radius of identified accident scene were purposively examined (with questionnaire)to elicit information on major causes of accident , rescue techniques each time it occurs, frequency of accidents at the spots and solutions to accidents in the area. Findings showed that black spots were characterized by bends, pot holes, over speeding and vehicular overtakes hill brows. The objective of this study is to identify major accident black sports in Ondo State and determine reasons why accidents are peculiar in such areas. Accident occurs in a flash and cause damages to vehicles as well as human bodies. With this study, road traffic accidents can be classified in three categories in Ondo state: Minor accidents (light damage to vehicle, no injury), Serious accidents (heavy damage to vehicle with injury but no death) and

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Fatal accidents (when death occurs) .To ensure that Road Traffic Crashes are reduced to the barest minimum in Ondo State, constant maintenance of Roads should be embarked upon, road worthy Vehicles should be encouraged and drivers should be trained and retrained from time to time. The paper therefore recommends that Road safety issue should not be left alone for the agents like police and FRSC. It should be the joint responsibilities of the commission, the state government and everybody. Keywords: Traffic, Accident, Black spot, and Planning

1.0 Introduction Road Traffic Accident is unarguably one of the major tragedies confronting man in the world today. The magnitude is on the increase while the trend cuts across all tribes and races and discriminates no boundary (Austin 2010). Unfortunately, the rising tide of global problem has continued to outstrip all efforts to curtail it. Such efforts in major parts of the world especially in all motorizing nations are yet to provide solutions to this problem. Accident has dealt devastation blows to families, communities and the country at large whenever it occurs (Federal Road Safety Commission 2005). This has resulted to loss of manpower as a result of injury or death. During year 2004, World Health Day Anniversary, it was revealed that RTA kill approximately 1.2 million people and injure or disable about 50 million around the world each year with over 80 percent of these causalities occurring in developing countries (Akinola, 2005) Therefore, the issue of RTA in Ondo State poses a great problem which has led to the need to ascertain the true position. Some reports have it that Ondo now ranks tenth in road accident mortality rate in Nigeria in spite of different measures put in place by the Federal Government to curb the surge on the Nigeria roads. 1.2 Statement of Problem To battle road crashes, it is important for all road users to obey the rules and regulations governing the use of high ways. Unfortunately, incessant disobedience to traffic rules and regulations on the part of road users has been noted to be one of the major causes of road traffic accident mostly in the developing nations like Nigeria and more importantly in the study area. Equally germane to the enactment of road usage is stringent enforcement by enforcement agents on road usage regulations. This is because laws by themselves are not sufficient deterrent, if machinery for regulation and apprehension is not institutionalized. For laws to be effectual, stringent enforcement, regulations, and sanctions must be properly put in place (Akinola 2005) The environmental factor consists principally of the weather and climatic conditions. Torrential rainfalls and extreme sunshine subject roads to early deterioration. "Driving becomes much more difficult and hazardous when visibility is blurred by weather conditions such as rain, moist, fog, harmattan, dust or other related factors". Roads become slippery when they are wet and become impassable if there is flood. Other factors that may cause environmental hazards include indiscriminate dumping and abandoning of wrecked vehicles, wrongly-packed broken- down vehicles, trees and poles, animal herding, abandoned stones, woods or other hard objects used for raising vehicles or as chocks when motorists change deflated tyres on the road. These objects often cause accidents because other vehicles may run into them if they are not properly

Journal of Geography and Planning Sciences Volume 3, Number 2, 2018 ISSN 2006 – 1226 disposed off after use. The aim of this study is to identify major accident black spots in Ondo State and determine reasons why accidents are peculiar to such areas. In view of this, the researchers therefore, assumed that: First, Most of the accidents that occurred in Ondo State happen along some particular spots. Second, that in spite of the fact that such accidents occurred at a particular spot, Government has not deemed it fit to examine the causes of such accident with a view to using it to suggest solutions to the problems of RTA in Ondo State, third,that road safety facilities are not adequate and in use in Ondo State especially Towing Trucks and patrol vehicles. Forth, most of the accidents that occurred and are fatal in Ondo state, happen in the night and lastly the presence and patrol of FRSC on the high ways have cautioned the drivers and by implications reduced RTA on our roads.

2. CONCEPTUAL/THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

No matter how one drives, these is always a chance that accident will happen and no one can predict when it may happen. In other words, road accident is unpredictable. It usually occurs at any given time with or without warning signal(s) to motorists and other road users. However, accidents do not just happen, every accident has a cause. The cause may be external to the individual or it may be within or it may result from both sources. But with broad based knowledge of road safety, the worst road accident can be prevented or avoided. Many are the causes of RTA; however, there are four major ones namely; Human, Mechanical, Road and Environmental. Human Factor is capable of causing RTA and it often results from unsafe interaction with other road users or any other causative agent of road accidents. According to Oyeyemi (2003) "Human factor constitute about 80 percent of the causes of road traffic accidents recorded in the country". Ogunbodede, Olurankinse and Ilesanmi (2008) identified "road user's error" as the main cause of at least 70 percent to road accidents. Onakomaiya, (1988) agreed that a greater percentage of accident is attributable to human factor and regarded the highways and vehicles as mere passive agents of mobility. The Revised Highway Code highlighted some specific avoidable causes of road accident to include the following: Over- confidence: Drivers often feel that they are masters of the vehicle. Speeding: Accident at high speed are more disastrous than accidents at low speed. Concentration: Drivers often talk, eat, gesticulate, wave to and stare at passing friends, light cigarettes, smoke, calling and receiving phone calls and change cassettes while driving. This lack of concentration is dangerous as it takes only seconds for accident to occur. Similarly, driving long distance, driving after a heavy meal or over-working can cause fatigue. Alcohol intake can cause over-confidence, poor judgment and recklessness. Drivers often do not check their vehicles to ensure that they are in good condition for the road before setting out on a journey. Some drivers of broken down vehicles do not give adequate warning signs to approaching vehicles and as such others run into their vehicles. Careless overtaking and poor judgment combine to cause accidents. Mechanical Factor: Mechanical factor is the issue of the road worthiness of a vehicle. This has to do with the mechanical fitness of the motor vehicle. If all of the vehicles plying Nigerian roads, especially the commercial ones, are subjected to Potential Mechanical Defect Test (PMDT), the percentage that will contravene existing traffic rules and regulations will be noticeably unbelievable as majority will rank as junks. Oyeyemi (2003) observed that: "The abundance of mechanically defective vehicles is common sights on our roads". According to

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Oyeyemi (2003) "Many of these vehicles lack minimum vehicle safety standards". However, it will be difficult to shy away from the fact that popularity of rickety vehicles and the general use of imported second hand vehicles called Tokunbo are not unconnected with the economic realities of the country, albeit maintenance culture is also lacking. More often than not, mechanically induced accidents are incidental to human errors or acts of omission or commission. To keep a vehicle in good mechanical condition, some of the devices that require particular attention are brakes, tyres, steering mechanism, propeller, shaft, lights, trafficators (direction indicators), windscreens, horn and mirrors. Road Factor: Road factor concerns road design, construction, maintenance and usage as well as complementary road infrastructure and street furniture. In most parts of Ondo State, the conditions of many roads are generally bad in terms of design and construction to the extent that they constitute serious hazards to road users; In his own contribution Ogunbodede (2008) said that the causes of high rate of accidents indicate poor road use and poor motoring habits. Road infrastructure and furniture like road signs and side rails are conspicuously absent. And until the current road maintenance drive embarked upon by the Federal Ministry of Work (FMW) through the establishment of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), maintenance of the very few roads that were in good shape used to be an abandoned issue. However, the importance of ergonomic design and construction of road to traffic safety cannot be over-emphasized as the physical condition of the road constitutes an important psychological factor in safe driving. However, the claim by Olagunju (2001) that "the topography of the Nigerian terrain constitutes a remarkable obstruction in roads construction" is questionable. How remarkable at a time when other nations with-lesser resources and more terrible topography are building better roads and constructing motorway tunnels through rocky hills and mountains? It is only the Government that can explain why it still opts for roads construction in the bestial and vestigial styles. The environmental factor consists principally of the weather and climatic conditions. Torrential rainfalls and extreme sunshine subject roads to early deterioration. "Driving becomes much more difficult and hazardous when visibility is blurred by weather conditions such as rain, moist fog, harmattan, dust or other related factors". Roads will become slippery when they are wet and become impassable if there is flood. Other factors that may cause environmental hazards include indiscriminate dumping and abandoning of wrecked vehicles, wrongly-packed broken-down vehicles, trees and poles, animal herding, abandoned stones, woods or other hard objects used for raising vehicles or as chocks when motorists change deflated tyres on the road. These objects often cause accidents because other vehicles can run into them. According to Hananiya (2006), accident occurs in three phases: Pre-crash Phase believed that, this phase is characterized by heavy drinking, alcoholism, poor eyesight, aggressiveness and deficiency in highway and road design. He also believed that this stage of accident occurrence is evidenced by a situation of loopholes and inadequate enforcement of laws on the highways. A situation of bad inspection standard on the road, where there is predominant cases of bribery and corruption of Traffic Law Enforcement Agents. It is also a stage when the agency responsible for law enforcement on the road did not live up to expectation. The objective of this phase is incident avoidance. Crash phase Hananiya (2006), posited that this phase is characterized by all circumstances

Journal of Geography and Planning Sciences Volume 3, Number 2, 2018 ISSN 2006 – 1226 of internal and external situation to a vehicle, which in case of accident determine possibility of injury, nature and serenity. These are the existence of things such as sharp ridges, guard-rails and protrusions, which cause injury to pedestrians and vehicle occupants if accident occurs. In analyzing this stage of crash, Adekoya (1992), suggested that vehicles should be crash designed so that doors do not open whenever crash occurs at any speed. The side structure of the passenger must be so designed that lateral impact surface do not substantially penetrate the passenger space and the restraint device such as safety belts and head rest are provided so as to prevent the occupant from being ejected from the car. Post-crash phase Hananiya (2006), posited that this phase is characterized with saving those that need not die, hence, there is need for ambulance, communication, first aid equipment and a good Samaritan. However, this is purely the case of rescue in Nigeria contest but they are sometimes left with a bad memory for being a good Samaritan.

3. STUDY AREA

Ondo State is made up of high topography, a reminiscence of the Yoruba hills that adorn the western part of the country called western uplands. This topography which is in form of mountain, valleys and rivers constitutes a remarkable obstruction to road construction that leads to sharp bends, steep hilly sides and sharp slopes e.g. Owo-Ikare, Oke-Alabojuto, Owo- Ipele to mention a few of the dangerous roads. Due to our tropical climate, heavy torrential rainfall, causes gully erosion while extreme sunshine also affects the road network negatively causing potholes and deadly port holes e.g. Akure-Owena bridge where rivers over flowing and washing off culvert e.g. Akure-Owo-Ogbese road all these cause accidents. Likewise, harmattan around December/January and heavy down pour in August! September result into foggy, hazy, or misty vision that cause poor visibility while driving on the road that eventually results into accident on the high ways of Ondo State. Road design and construction, maintenance and usage as well as complementary road infrastructure in most parts of Ondo State are generally causes of RTA e.g. Owo-Ikare Oke Alabojuto, Owo-Ipele, Okia-Bend along Isua-Oka road. They are reflected as stated here:Lack of road infrastructures such as road signs and side rails are conspicuously absent, Pot holes on our roads, Traffic signs are not conspicuously displayed on the high way, Bad road (narrow, rough, dusty and winding road), Absence of road marking, Collapsed bridge, Fallen trees on the road and Armed robbery spots.

4.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS

The subject of this study is the accident black spots in Ondo State and by implication would be regarded as the population of study. Thus, all accident prone zones or where accidents occur frequently were regarded as accident black spots. The accident black spots in Ondo State were obtained from Ondo State Police Command and supplemented by the annual accident reports from the State office of the FRSC. Multistage sampling techniques were used to collect data for the study. The first stage is to provide absolute locational information which was realized by using

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Geographic Positioning System (GPS) to determine the location of such spots relative to other areas. Thus, the GPS of all the spots were identified and recorded. The second stage was the administration of structured questionnaire to collect information from people that are living within a distance of 600 m to the identified accident spots. Such responses constitute the geo- spatial information. A total number of 700 copies of the questionnaire were made available to respondents living within the radius of 600 m to accident scenes as highlighted before. The questionnaire was designed to elicit information on perceived causes of accidents, rescue techniques, frequency of accidents and suggestion to accidents in the area. The selection of the respondents for the study was made on the people who live very close to accident prone zones. For each identified blacks pots, 10 copies of the questionnaires were administered to determine the various causes of accidents at a particular point. This is done, because, it is believed that people living around each accident prone points knows better, the major cause of accident at such points. The house-hold heads that cooperated were randomly picked to respond to the questions. .

5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Data collected using perception scale were subjected to Group Arithmetic Mean using the formulae of summation fx divided by summation f. The mean of various factors responsible for accidents were derived. In addition to this, the group arithmetic mean were also derived to determine the cut off-point which was used to determine whether to accept or reject a statement of facts on the cause of accident at the various Senatorial District within Ondo State. 5.1 Causes of road accidents in Ondo State Road Traffic Accidents do not just happen, there is always a cause. It can happen at any time of the day and at any place. Accident is therefore one of the phenomena that is highly unpredictable and that is why it may be caused by the driver, the roads, the vehicles or the Environment. Road accident are said to occur when damage, injury or death result on the road in the course of moving the people or goods from one place to the other. Accident occurs in a flash and may cause damages to vehicles as well as human bodies. Most of the times, accidents claim lives and properties that may run into millions. .Road crashes have resulted in more waste of lives and property than any form or known diseases. Road traffic accidents are in three categories in Ondo state like any other environment anywhere in the world. 1 Minor, accidents (light damage to vehicle, no injury) 2. Serious accidents (heavy damage to vehicle with injury but no death) 3. Fatal accidents (when death occurs) Drunkenness and use of drugs are major cause of Road Traffic Accident anywhere in the world and constitute one of the major ways by which accident occur in Ondo State. When alcohol or drugs are taken, drivers lose their ability to co-ordinate their activities perfectly and their reflex action level drops, e.g. long distance drivers are known to rely on stimulants, alcohol, drugs, marijuana or cigarettes to beef up alertness. Consequently they suffer hallucinations, lack of sense of judgment and attempting daring maneuvers and suicidal overtaking on highways,

Journal of Geography and Planning Sciences Volume 3, Number 2, 2018 ISSN 2006 – 1226 which more often than not resulted into accidents. Many drivers in Ondo State are noted to learn driving through friends, relations or parents who may not be able to pay attentions to detail driving skills. These quack drivers, after a few days of driving move to the roads where they risk their lives and those of other road users. Similarly, most of the drivers in Ondo State depend on RAIDS i.e. Road Traffic Immunity Delusion Syndromes. They deceive themselves that they are immunes to accident by using juju, charms or incantations. Reliance on these metaphysical and superstitious beliefs has terminated many lives prematurely. Well-to-do parents over pamper their underage wards by buying vehicles for them. Most of these underage children are often involved in accident in Ondo State. In addition some children 'steal' their parents' keys and move such vehicles into the road with little or no experience only to cause havoc on the roads. Some checkpoints mounted on the highways by security men at times cause accident on the highways in Ondo states e.g Isua junction along Ipele - Isua road. More especially if the checkpoint is around sharp corners, crest of a hill or inter-section and without adequate warning signals before the spots where the check points are mounted. Driving and engaging in conservation, gazing at events happening on road sides, changing radio cassettes etc while driving all these cause road accident as well as deep conversation between drivers and passengers. Over speeding and driving at breakneck speed often cause accident as the driver loses control at any slight occurrence e.g. tyre burst, brake failure, engine failure, etc. Sometimes accident occurrence can be traced to other road users. For example, pedestrian not keeping off the road or not looking before crossing the road or not wearing conspicuous colours at night or not crossing where they could be seen. Mechanical factors include the problems that emanate from the vehicle itself. Defective vehicle commonly seen on the road have become death traps or moving coffins as they lack minimum vehicle safety standard. Brake failure, burst tyre, propeller and wheel pulling out on motion, ball joint/shaft brake down etc are all mechanical devices that led to traffic accident on the high ways in Ondo state.

Table 1: Identification of Accident Spots and Reasons for such Accidents S/N Road Name Spot on the Road where Reasons for such Accident Suggested Remedy to Reduce Accident Occurs Accident at that Spot

1 Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Over speeding, impatience of Reduce speed when getting to the Junction, Isuada the driver, dangerous junction; avoid both wrongful and Akure-Owo junction Mopol overtaking. dangerous overtaking and always road Junction,Ogbese patience when getting to the market, Eporo junction entire intersection road.

2 Oyoyo village, Elegbeka, overloading of vehicles with Overloading should be ceramic junction, Orin- good/passengers, over discouraged. FRSC should mount Owo-Ifon Ohen speeding, tyre bust, age of their radian gun at a bend to road vehicles arrest vehicles that over speed. 3 Oke-Alabojuto, Oke- Road bends too many, slippery Articulated vehicles should be Oka, Okerigbo roads, lost of concentration on band on that road. Dangerous Owo-Ikare the part of drivers, driver’s bend should be amended. Public

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road inability to interpret the enlightenment to educate and highway code. High hills interpret of highway code. 4 Epinmi -Akoko junction, Over speeding at inappropriate Bumps ahead should be put at Okia Bend and Oke – spots, presence of road each intersection reduce the Ikare-Isua Oka hill. intersection, narrow bridges. speed of drivers at each junction, road extend narrow bridges or reconstruct the. 5 Ilaramokin junction, Impatience of the driver to slow Driver should be patient when Igbara-Oke junction, own/reduce speed at the getting to the intersection. Road Akure – Ipetu Ijesa junction intersection, indiscriminate signs be put at the appropriate Ilesa road parking on the road junctions and vehicles should be parked off the road completely. 6 Akure-Ado Itaogbolu bridge, Iju, Presence of arrow bridges, pot Bridges should be expanded pot Road roundabout, Mopol at holes on the road, road bends holes should be filled, drivers Ikere too many. should learn how to slow down at the bends. 7 Oke-Aro junction, Too many bends, age of the Drivers should try to caution Adofure junction, Oke- vehicle. Over speeding at an themselves when approaching a Akure- Idanre junction inappropriate spot. bend, law enforcement Agent Idanre road should put off-road on rickety or road worthless vehicles. 8 Road block junction, Disturbance of Okada’s rider at Okada riders should be relocated Oke-Odu junction, Irese road block junction, overloading to appropriate place, law road junction, Ijare-hill of goods and passengers, enforcement Agent should arrest Akure-Ijare gradient on the road too steep. any overloaded vehicles to serve road Failure to cover unstable as deterrent to others. Drivers materials (Tipper) should reduce speed at any sloppy road. Use strong tarpaulin to cover unstable materials.

9 Akure-Ondo Owena market, Army Dangerous driving, over Owena market should be re- road Barrack,Fagbo Junction speeding, use of phone while located enlightenment should be Igba junction, Ile-Oluji driving, overtaking at a crest of given to the drivers on the junction. hills. disadvantages of the use of pones while driving.

10 Bagbe, Igushin, Odigbo Over speeding of the drivers, Dualization of the road is junction Omifon, NNPC High volume of Traffic, necessary because of the high Ondo –Ore dangerous is overtaking at the volume of Traffic, Drivers should

road junction, Ore junction, avoid dangerous bends, trees independence secondary school falling during rainy season, lack of junction, Sabo shoulder for articulated vehicle to move over to step own. Heavy traffic volume.

11 Irele junction, Ode –Aye Presence of road intersection, Bumps ahead should be placed at junction, Okitipupa over speeding at inappropriate each junction, FRSC to arrest Ore- junction, Okitipupa spots, road bends too many. violators of over speeding by Okitipupa Driving under Alcohol/drug using radar gun. Alcholiser to test road influence Drunkards; rivers and anybody but should be prosecuted, road signs should be put at appropriate bends

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Okitipupa - Igbokoda 12 Igbotako junction, Irele Excess of load should Excess of load should be road junction discouraged, cover unstable be discouraged, cover unstable materials, public enlightenment materials, public enlightenment should be given to drivers on should be given to drivers on danger involved in drinking when danger involved in drinking driving. Driver should not involve when driving. Driver should not themselves in carrying any involve gradients. Driving under projected load alcohol/Drug influence, failure to fix red flag on projected load. 13 Ore-Sagamu Ajibandele junction, Over speeding, sleeping while Enforcement Agency should arrest road former toll gate, Omi- driving (fatigue), carelessness violators of over speeding, drivers Oluwa village on the part of the driver, use of should stop and rest after four phone whole driving, route hours of continuous driving for violation. easy circulation of blood. Receiving of phone call on motion should be discouraged. Violators of route diversion should be arrested should be tried at law court to serve as deterrent to others. 14 Ore- Ofosu village, Break down of articulated FRSC should be given towing Ajibandele Show boy vehicle at the centre of the trunk that will be able to carry road Narrow way road. Lack of inadequate broken down vehicles together construction warning sign by with their load. Contractors the road contractor, failure to should give warning signal at move over from the fast lane to least minimum of 200m ahead to the slow lane. Heavy traffic on the place of their construction. the road, passenger’s Driver should learn how to use destruction by talking to drivers the dual carriage Highway and showing them interesting through enlightenment things inside and outside the progranmne. Diversion of route is vehicle. necessary to reduce heavy traffic volume; passengers should allow drivers to concentrate when driving. Source: Author’s Field Survey, 2016

5.2 Accident Occurrence in Ondo North Senatorial District: The research concentrated efforts on the Trunk A roads within the senatorial district. The following accident black spots were identified: Arigidi-Okeagbe bends, Ogbagi-single lane bend, Oke-Oka crest, Oke-Maria bend, crest, slope and gulf, Okia-bend, slope, crest and gulf, Oba- market town bend, Oke-Adefariti bend, slope and crest, Agbaluku junction, Iwaro junction and bend, Oke-Alabojuto, ikare, Akungba “T” Junction, Emure-Ile, Owo junction, Benin-Ifon junction, Owo-Akungba junction in Owo, Ita-Ipele junction, Oyoyo village, Elegbeka, ceramic junction, Orin-Ohen, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Junction, Isuada junction Mopol Junction,Ogbese market and Eporo junction

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The accidents that occurred on these roads do differentiate the kind or type of vehicles used. This shows that all vehicles are involved in accident. However, the public passenger buses as well as cars are frequently involved in accident on these roads. Similarly the five different types of causes of accidents are also the cause of accidents on these routes. The causes are Environmental factors, Human factors, Vehicle related factors, Road related factors and System factors. The severity of accidents on these routes is determined by the nature of the accident black spots. For example Okia accidents point and Oke-Maria spot have four major topographical deficiencies or characteristics that made the spots to be highly susceptible to accidents. The spot are in a bend with a sharp slope and steep crest. The routes also have a deep gorge on one side. The road by all standards is not good for luxurious buses, trailers and petrol tank trucks. Unfortunately all these vehicles ply the road night and day. This is because the road links the south western part of Nigeria with the north. Accidents on these spots have claimed more lives than any other spots in the North Senatorial District of the State. Millions of naira worth of properties has been lost on these roads as many of these vehicles emptied their good in the gorges. Some vehicles also got burnt whenever accidents occurred especially the petrol tank trucks. In addition to this, lives of passengers are lost whenever accidents occurred on these roads. The night accident is the worse in terms of causalities. The reason is because accident victims hardly had assistance in terms of help and rescue whenever it occurred in the night. Help may easily come for accident victim when it occurs during the day. Harmattan is an important factor of road accident during the end of the year and at the beginning of the year when there is change in weather. During these periods, visibility becomes poor and vehicles had to put on their head lamps to guide against head collusion. The situation also become worse in villages and towns where smoke combined with fog and formed smog. Table 2 revealed that rainfall ranked next to Harmattan while poor visibility followed in the North Senatorial District of Ondo State. For environmental factors, only poor visibility with a mean of 2.86 which was less than the cut-off point of 3.38 was rejected as a major cause of accident in the North Senatorial District.

Table 2: Environmental Factors (Weather Related Factors) North Senatorial District S/No Statement Strongly Agreed Disagreed Strongly Mean Remark agreed disagreed of X

A Poor visibility 1528 324 86 67 2.86 reject account for accident at this spot B Rainfall cause 2016 420 48 32 3.59 accept accident in this spot C Harmattan cause 2160 324 84 10 3.68 accept accident at this spot Source: Author’s Field Survey, 2016 (Cut-off mean = 3.38)

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Table 3 revealed the contributions of human factors to accident causation in the North Senatorial District of Ondo State. Over speeding was discovered to be the most prominent cause of accident under this category. Other details can be found in this table.

Table 3: HUMAN FACTORS (NORTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT) S/No Statement Strongly Agreed Disagreed Strongly Mean of Remark agreed Disagreed x

A Accident occurrence at this 1848 384 140 40 3.45 accept spot can be attributed to over speeding of the driver

B Sleeping while driving 864 390 208 250 2.45 reject

C Driver’s inability to 696 423 370 200 2.42 reject interpret the highway code

D Drunkenness on the part of 424 1357 350 300 3.47 accept the driver

E Carelessness on the part of 700 1023 208 80 2.87 reject the driver

F Lost of concentration on 784 1041 234 40 3.00 accept the part of the driver

G Making/answering calls 628 1041 202 95 2.81 reject while diving

H Overloading of vehicles 864 903 328 19 3.02 accept with goods /passengers

I Tiredness or fatigue on the 1068 762 302 28 3.09 accept part of the driver

J Over speeding at an 1160 858 174 32 3.18 accept inappropriate spots

K Impatience on the part of 1116 876 134 62 3.13 accept the driver

L Indiscriminate location of 744 582 382 129 2.62 reject the police check points

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M Indiscriminate positioning 776 633 358 116 2.69 reject of the FRSC on the road

Source: Author’s Field Survey, 2016 (Cut-off mean = 2.94)

Table 4: VEHICLE RELATED FACTORS (NORTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT) S/No Statement Strongly Agreed Disagreed Strongly Mean of x Remark agreed Disagreed

A Brake failure 224 348 438 305 1.88 reject

B Indiscriminate 2.52 accept 624 642 334 163 parking on

C Usage of bad 2.51 accept 664 552 388 156 tyres

D Poor condition of 2.45 accept 464 630 492 128 the wipers

E Bad conditions 2.07 reject 404 348 428 269 of the engine

F Age of the 2.72 accept 704 732 372 94 vehicle

Source: Author’s Field Survey, 2016 (Cut-off mean = 2.36)

Table 4 revealed the vehicular factors that usually caused accident in the North Senatorial District of Ondo State. From the table, it is evident that indiscriminate parking along the road side, usage of bad tyres, poor condition of wipers most importantly whenever there is rainfall as well as the age of the vehicle are the significant factors that responsible for the most of the accident that occurred on the identified spots Similarly, Table 5 shows the road related factors that cause accident in the North Senatorial District of the State. Where the gradient of the road corridor is too steep, accident occurs often. It becomes worse when such steep roads are located within bends. This is the reason that accounted for series of accident that occurred in Okia bend in Oka area of the North Senatorial District. The fatality attached to accidents at this hot spot is equally very high. This spot has recorded more death than any other spots as identified by this study (see Table 6 and 7) for details.

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Table 5: Road Related Factors (Physical characteristics of the road) North Senatorial District S/No Statement Strongly Agreed Disagreed Strongly Mean of x Remark agreed Disagreed

A Gradient of the road 3.09 accept 1064 903 126 70 is too steep

B Slippery roads 820 864 188 113 2.84 reject

C Too many bends 256 912 84 40 1.85 reject

D Un-cleared scene 824 870 198 105 2.69 reject

E Presence of narrow 2.68 reject 824 612 312 134 bridges

F Road bends too 3.28 accept 1244 984 98 12 many

G Pot holes on the 3.22 accept 1256 837 112 51 road

H Presence of road 2.78 reject 864 672 296 112 intersection

Source: Author’s Field Survey, 2016. (Cut-off point = 2.80)

Table 6: System Related Factors North Senatorial District S/No Statement Strongly Agreed Strongly disagreed Disagreed agreed A Traffic on the road is heavy 58% 58 % 22 % 8 %

B Land use system on the road 44% 26% 17% 13% influence accident occurrence Source: Author’s Field Survey, 2016

Table 7: Classification of Accidents S/No Statement Strongly Agreed Strongly disagreed Disagreed agreed A Level of accident at this spot 51% 32% 11% 6% can be classified as

B Level of accident can be 48% 27% 15% 10% classified as being major Source: Author’s Field Survey, 2016

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Table 8: The frequency of occurrence of accidents at this spot (North Senatorial District) S/No Statement Strongly Agreed Strongly Disagreed agreed disagreed A Accident occurs at this spot once in a week 44% 32% 12% 12%

B Accident occur at this spot twice in 48% 31% 14% 7% a week

C Accident occurs at this spot 46% 35% 12% 7% three times in a week Source: Author’s Field Survey, 2016

In the same vein, the frequency occurrence of accident on the identified spots were also analysed as shown in Table 8. From the table, it was revealed that at least accident will occur twice in a week which could be fatal, minor or major. 5.3 Accident Occurrence in Ondo Central Senatorial District The factors that responsible for accident occurrence in Ondo Central Senatorial District of Ondo State such as Environmental, Human and vehicle related factors were analysed as shown in Tables 9, 10 and 11

5.4 Environmental Factors (Weather Related Factors) Ondo Central Senatorial District Environmental factors as it relates to weather related factors were also analyzed and the result is as shown in table 9

Table 9: Environmental Factors (Weather Related Factors) Ondo Central Senatorial District

S/No Statement S/Agreed Agreed Disagreed S/Disagreed Mean of x Decision A Poor visibility account for 3.77 accept 1868 261 136 78 accident at this spot

B Rainfall cause accident in this 3.75 reject 1840 372 180 136 spot

C Harmattan cause accident at 3.75 reject 1756 378 108 81 this spot

Source: Author’s Field Survey, 2016 (Cut-off point = 3.76) Table 9 shows that only poor visibility account for accident of all environmental factors that cause accident on the roads in Ondo State. Others were rejected based on the cut-off point of

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3.76. That does not mean that they cannot cause accident but it only shows their level of importance as far as this study is concerned. Table 10: Human Factors Ondo Central Senatorial District

S/N Statement S/Agreed Agreed Disagreed S/Disagreed Mean of Decision o x A Accident occurrence at this spot can be attributed to over 1388 414 178 128 speeding of the vehicle 4.45 accept B Sleeping while driving 812 372 256 245 3.16 reject

C Driver inability to interpret the 660 432 380 201 high way code 2.95 reject

D Drunkenness on the part of the 2.85 reject 512 365 392 251 driver

E Carelessness on the part of the 2.97 reject 668 912 372 43 driver

F Lost of concentration on the part 3.09 reject 748 960 260 63 of the driver

G Making/answering calls while 3.07 reject 580 927 212 140 diving

H Overloading of vehicles with 3.11 reject 892 900 300 27 goods /passengers

I Tiredness or fatigue on the part 3.11 reject 980 648 356 61 of the driver

J Over speeding at an 3.25 accept 1016 720 212 100 inappropriate spot

K Impatience on the part of the 3.61 accept 992 43 106 103 driver

L Indiscriminate location of the 3.14 reject 663 495 214 154 police check points

M Indiscriminate positioning of the FRSC 648 732 336 126 2.99 reject Source: Author’s Field Survey, 2016 (Cut-off point = 3.21)

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Table 10 also shows various factors responsible for accident causation a cut-off point for the acceptance or rejection of a factor was put ass 3.21. The factors above the cut-off point were accepted while those below it were rejected. Table 11: Vehicle Related Factors in Ondo Central Senatorial District S/No Statement Strongly Agreed Disagreed Strongly Mean of Remark agreed Disagreed x

A Brake failure 260 384 372 271 2.69 rejected

B Indiscriminate parking on reject 668 711 348 122 2.99 the road

C Usage of bad tyres 744 570 460 94 2.90 rejected

D Poor condition of the 2.79 rejected 432 738 466 113 wipers

E Bad conditions of the 2.86 rejected 492 501 378 221 engine

F Age of 2.44 rejected 624 714 392 118 vehicles

Source: Author’s Field Survey, 2016

5.5 Accident Occurrence in Ondo South Senatorial District The South Senatorial District experience fewer accidents than the first two senatorial districts. The major zones of accidents in these areas are junction. The conflicts that led to accidents at the junctions can be attributed to impatience on the part of drivers and sometimes again to over speeding (see Table 12 -16)

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Table 12: Environmental Factors (Weather Related Factors) in Ondo South senatorial District S/No Statement Strongly Agreed Disagreed Strongly Mean of x Remark agreed Disagreed

A Poor visibility account 3.49 accept for accident at this 1960 1068 96 194 spot

B Rainfall cause accident 3.26 accept 1392 720 68 78 in this spot

C Harmattern cause 3.03 reject 1920 309 68 82 accident at this spot

Source: Author’s Field Survey, 2016 (Cut-off point = 3.26)

Table 12 reveals that Harmattan as a cause of accident in the southern senatorial district was rejected. This is based on the cut-off point as shown in Table 12. The other factors which have their mean cut-off above 3.26 were accepted as being valid as a cause of accident in the study area

Table 13: Human Factors in Ondo South Senatorial District

S/No Statement S/Agreed Agreed Disagreed S/Disagreed Mean of x Decision A Accident occurrence at this spot can be attributed to 1740 435 92 74 over speeding of the vehicle 3.62 accept

B Sleeping while driving 836 381 360 184 3.06 accept

C Driver inability to interpret the 752 534 346 152 high way code 3.01 accept

D Drunkenness on the part of 512 360 336 284 the driver 2.90 accept

E Carelessness on the part of 628 963 242 116 the driver 3.06 accept

F Lost of concentration on the 3.13 accept 756 996 212 73 part of the driver

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G Making/answering calls while 668 714 338 126 diving 2.30 reject

H Overloading of vehicles with 784 804 256 108 goods /passengers 3.15 accept

I Tiredness or fatigue on the 1024 693 288 69 part of the driver 3.18 accept

J Over speeding at an 1080 855 136 77 inappropriate spot 3.32 accept

K Impatience on the part of the 964 792 130 330 driver 3.31 accept

L Indiscriminate location of the 540 528 360 164 police check points 2.91 accept

M Indiscriminate positioning of the FRSC 660 561 340 178 2.99 accept Source: Author’s Field Survey, 2016 (Cut-off point = 2.82)

From table 13, it was revealed that only making or answering of phone calls while driving was rejected as the of the reasons why accident occurs in the Ondo South Senatorial District of the study area. This is base of the cut-off point as shown in table 13, the factors which have their cut –off points above 2.90 were accepted. However, this could be as a result of the enforcement and effectiveness of driving rules of the road Safety officials in the area.

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Table 14: Vehicle Related Factors in Ondo South Senatorial District S/No Statement Strongly Agreed Disagreed Strongly Mean of Remark agreed Disagreed x

A Brake failure 256 360 416 308 2.63 reject

B Indiscriminate parking on 2.98 accept 580 561 312 212 the road

C Usage of bad tyres 624 495 290 374 3.02 accept

D Poor condition of the 2.86 reject 568 639 452 121 wipers

E Bad conditions of the 2.84 reject 480 420 390 245 engine

F Age of 2.90 accept 624 624 428 122 vehicles

Source: Author’s Field Survey, 2016 (cut-off point = 2.87)

Table 15: Road Related Factors (Physical Characteristics of the Road) in Ondo South Senatorial District

S/No Statement Strongly Agreed Disagreed Strongly Mean of x Remark agreed Disagreed

A Gradient of the 3.28 accept 980 891 140 88 road is too steep

B Slippery roads 800 738 206 351 3.18 reject

C Too many bends 640 621 246 210 3.08 reject

D Un-cleared scene 712 690 256 164 3.09 reject

E Presence of 2.94 reject 680 525 378 166 narrow bridges

F Road bends too 3.40 accept 1280 834 112 46 many

G Pot holes on the 3.31 accept 1068 795 136 100 road

H Presence of road 3.31 accept 824 612 130 125 intersection

Source: Author’s Field Survey, 2016 (Cut-off point = 3.20)

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Table 16: System Related Factors in Ondo South Senatorial District S/No Statement Strongly Disagreed Strongly disagreed Disagreed agreed A Traffic on the road is heavy 23% 20 % 34 % 23 %

B Land use system on the road 16% 24% 34% 26% influence accident occurrence Source: Author’s Field Survey, 2016

Further analysis in Tables 14, 15 and 16 also revealed some factors responsible for accidents in some identified black spots in the southern senatorial district of Ondo Stat.it was discovered that factors such as indiscriminate parking most importantly along road side, usage of bad tyres, age of the vehicle, gradients with too many bends on the road, presence of potholes as well as cross-roads inform of ‘T’- junctions account for most of the accidents that occurs in this area.

6.0 RECOMMENDA TION

According to Falae (1989) "Most problems of society are man-made. The motor vehicle is an invention of the human mind; any problems that accompany its utilization must therefore be subjected to control set also by the human minds". Essentially, the need for road safety strategies to prevent road accidents cannot be over-emphasized in Ondo State of Nigeria since many countries have already demonstrated that actions to improve road safety will protect people.  Consequently, Ondo State government must adequately embark upon actions that will generate road safety performance in the state. Other principles for achieving high level of safety in the road network are as follows:  Localization of activities to reduce the amount of traffic and conflicting traffic.  Segregation of the various groups of road users to eliminate conflicts.  Differentiation of the road network to harmonize the traffic flow on each type of road.  Simplification and standardization of the road network and its details to reduce the elements of surprise and to simplify decisions and actions.  Smoothening the road environment to reduce the seriousness of accidents.  Cautioning the road users to behave safely while driving on the road.  Provision of vehicles with high standards as to road safety including technical requirements, proper maintenance and devices to protect vehicle occupants.  Also, we wish to recommend an adequate road signs, maintenance and reconstruction. The researchers have observed that road deficiency is a contributing factor to most accident in Ondo State.  We also want to recommend that the gospel of Road Safety must be sermonized conscientiously in order to inculcate road safety measures in the

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psyche and conscience of vast majority of Ondo State people especially the road users and finally  Bothe the Political as well as the Community leaders should show great interest and invest in the battle against RTC just as they have been doing in the case of AIDS/HIV.

7.0 CONCLUSION

This research attempted to examine accident black sports in Ondo State with a view to determine major causes of the accident in the identified sports and to proffer and probably to ensure that Road Traffic Crashes are reduced to the barest minimum in Ondo State, and at the same time constant maintenance of Roads should be embarked upon; road worthy Vehicles should be encouraged and drivers should be trained and retrained from time to time. The paper therefore recommends that Road safety issue should not be left alone for the agents like police and FRSC. It should be the joint responsibilities of the commission, the state government and everybody.

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Onakomaiya, S. O. (1988): Unsafe at any Speed: Toward Road Transportation For Survival; Inaugural Lecture, University of Ilorin, Ilorin. Oyeyemi .B.O; (2003) Stands in Road Traffic Administration Federal Road Safety Commission: The Revised Highway code. Federal Road Safety Commission; Bulletin No 01/93 Federal Road Safety Commission Compendium - (April 2006) Lokoja - issues in Road Traffic Administration and Safety Management