Assessment of Road Worthiness of Long Distance Commercial Vehicles in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The prevalence of road traffic accidents is on the rise, thus contributing to morbidity and mortality. Vehicular factors are responsible for 13% of road traffic crashes, 33% of vehicles are not compliant to road worthiness standards. Defects in vehicles commonly occur in the braking systems, trafficators and lights, tires and wheels, steering systems and body. Vehicle road worthiness is important in ensuring that the vehicle is safe and is road worthy. This is a current global need as highlighted in the World decade for road safety action. It is important that commercial vehicles that transport passengers are road worthy, since these vehicles claim more deaths and disability after a road accident. This emphasizes the importance of routine vehicular checks in road safety. Also, the ever increasing in number of parks, transport operators, vehicles and passengers on the road has more than ever underscored the need for fitness to drive assessment and roadworthiness checks. This study aimed at road worthiness of long distance commercial vehicles in Benin City, Edo State. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used, and data was collected from 315 commercial long-distance drivers and their vehicles. Study was done from January to October, 2013. Respondents were recruited using systematic random sampling technique. Study instruments included structured interviewer administered questionnaires (including an observational checklist). Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Of the 315 respondents, 273 (86.6%) had vehicles that were aged 1-4 years while 42 (13.4%) were aged 5-8 years. Over three quarters 245 (77.8%) of vehicles had a valid MOT road worthiness certificate in place. Two hundred and eighty-five (90.5%) vehicles of respondents were roadworthy, while 30 (9.5%) were not road worthy. The statistically significant predictors of roadworthiness were vehicle age (years), having a valid Ministry of Health (MOT) roadworthiness certification in place and fitness of the driver. Only a tenth of the vehicles were road worthy. Thus, there is need to conduct annual vehicular checks and maintenance, including search for vehicular defects before departure. Enforce fitness to drive assessment especially before issuance of driver's license and the Ministry of Transport (MOT) roadworthiness certificate should be issued only to vehicles that are road worthy and defect free.