Epidemiology of road traffic crashes among long distance drivers in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) are major causes of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. Few studies in Ibadan have focused on the distribution and determinants of RTC among long distance drivers.
Objective: To describe the distribution of crashes by place, times of occurrence, characteristics of persons involved and identify associated factors.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among consenting long distance drivers within selected parks in Ibadan.
Results: Respondents (592) were males, with median age of 42.0 years (range 22.0-73.0 years). Secondary education was the highest level of education attained by 38.0%. About 34.0% reported current use of alcohol. The life-time prevalence of crashes was 35.3% (95% CI= 31.5-39.2%) and 15.9% (95% CI=13.1-19.0%) reported having had at least one episode of crash in the last one year preceding the study. The crash occurred mainly on narrow roads [32/94 (34.0%,)] and bad portions of tarred roads [35/94 (37.2%,)] with peak of occurrence on Saturdays 18/94 (19.1%,). Significantly higher proportions of drivers aged ≤39years (23.4%) versus >39years (11.7%), those with no education (29.9%) versus the educated (13.8%) and those who reported alcohol use (21.9%) versus non users (12.8%) were involved in crashes in the year preceding the study. Significant predictor of the last episode of crashes in the last one year were age (OR=2.2, 95% CI=1.4-3.5), education (OR=2.7, 95% CI=1.5-4.6) and alcohol use (OR=1.8, 95% CI=1.2-3.0).
Conclusion: Road traffic crashes occurred commonly on bad roads, in the afternoon and during weekends, among young and uneducated long-distance drivers studied. Reconstruction of bad roads and implementation of road safety education programmes aimed at discouraging the use of alcohol and targeting the identified groups at risk are recommended.