Road accident and its health implication on drivers and passengers

Introduction

Accident poses greater threat to life in people from one to forty years (1-40) of age than other causes of death combined. This is because we live in a power packed era where millions of people are transported to and fro daily.

According to Olurunda (2004) road accident has resulted in the loss of so many lives in our society. It is the road users who make the road very dangerous and unsafe therefore safety on the road is very important. A corporate and moderate safety culture is thereby highly recommended.

One important feature of the national transport development in Nigeria is the frequent incidence of motor accident (Jegede 2005). A study of Nigerian road user’s habit shows that if Nigeria has invented the motor car, the rest of humanity would have smashed them-selves to death before the rest of the world knows what is happening. This no doubt refers to the violent nature of the individual behind the wheel resulting in the loss of talented and manpower often in their prime of life.

Udoh (2004) in his opinion says that a deliberate planned strategy is necessary to reduce the rate of accident on the Nigeria road. He also suggested that there is need for a general and through re-orientation of people on the affect of road accident. However there is also need for intensified educational and enlightenment programmes through the communicative media and a better and compulsory retraining programme on defensive driving. The police and other law enforcement agencies like the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) should enforce and implement safe/defensive driving laws. Through this, positive steps will be taken towards ensuring that our roads are safe and further reducing the accident on the highway thereby making it safe for motorist and other road users.

Sangers (2004) define accident as unexpected, unforeseen or unplanned occurrence which Result in injury. He acclaimed that accident is a physical occurrence that takes place when physical measures such as the maintenance of vehicles and vehicle parts, roads and environmental control conditions are neglected.

Another definition of accident was given by the Jegede (2005) as an unplanned process through which collision occurs between persons or things resulting in injuries, distress and damages. It occurs due to the interaction of man with his fellow man (drivers and passengers) and with the product of man’s hands (road and vehicles) and his environmental. Fossar (2007), from this concept it is therefore obvious that the definition has become a common feature. Accident results in injury, damage to property and death. It is also seen that there is the possibility of accident occurring at any sphere of human existence. On the road, at home and at work of which the victim is either directly or indirectly involved.

Causes of road accidents

Heirnrich (2008) opined that unsafe conditions and unsafe act are the two main cause of road accident. An unsafe condition refers to a condition that is: already existing that can result to accident for example, defective bridges, poor visibility, pot holes, narrow road etc.

While an unsafe act is an action that is done by a person without giving any attention to his safety or the safety of others, It therefore implies that many drivers on the road are in one way or the other involved indifferent forms of unsafe act, many drivers realise their responsibilities which tend to assume when they turn on the ignition key to start their vehicle. They know that not only their lives and those of their passengers, but also the lives of pedestrians and person whom they will be meeting in other to care, depend on their ability and carefulness yet very many drivers in Nigeria are not so careful they prefer to violate an already accepted safe procedure which could permit the occurrence of accident.

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Report in (2008) stated that unsafe act by drivers is responsible for about 95% accident on the road some forms of unsafe act by drivers are.

1. Excessive speed,
2. Wrong parking,
3. Dangerous overtaking at a bend, bridge,
4. Sleeping while driving,
5. Driving into a bend, or curve at high speed,
6. Reversing into a major road,
7. Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and
8. Failure to give signals before turning left, right or changing lanes.

It is also an unsafe act when a driver is driving while he is suffering from the following disease,

1. Uncontrolled diabetes
2. Uncontrolled epilepsy
3. Uncontrolled hypertension
4. Defective vision.

(Federal Road Safety Commission report 2008).

Factors resulting to accident

These factors will be discussed under the following sub-needing.

• Natural factors
• Behavioural factors
• Mechanical factors
• Environmental factors
• Road factors
• Miscellaneous factors

Natural factors

According to Nwachukwu (2006) most road accident in Nigeria are party caused by the natural factor which is inevitable. It includes sudden death while during ore tree or electric pole falling on outs vehicle while driving

Behavioural factors

According to Afolabi (2007) who stated that the personal factor resulting in road accident has been balanced on the drivers to the reason.

• Illiteracy: He said that illiteracy is a factor responsible for road accident. The inability of the drivers to read on road signs and traffic signals makes it difficult for him to know when he should take appropriate safety precaution such slow down as we approaches zebra  crossing, road intersection speed breakers narrow bridges, market, road bends and other dangerous places (Afolabi 2007)
• Excessive speed: Ndubuisi (2005) in his opinion started that excess speed makes it very hands for drivers to avoid a pot hole, negotiate a bend, or apply brakes on a slippery road without the vehicle going off the road thereby resulting in an accident.
• Physical disability: According to reason and Harry (2003) stated that physical disability includes poor vision, colour blindness and auditory implication. A driver with hand is likely to have a major or minor accident due to his inability to observe the proximity of an oncoming vehicle.
• Drunkenness: Brody (2003) stated that some drivers includes in taking alcohol before driving and arriving at their destination, Thus making him to be Intoxicated thereby leading to rough driving and speed which can result to accident other behavioural factors include lack of concentration, ill-health, lack of driving skill etc.

Mechanical factors

According to (2004) mechanical factors are also factor resulting in the cause of road accident. This factors is based solemnly on the parts of the vehicle, it includes.

• Thyroid pull: In his work he says that thyroids are the part of a vehicle that connects the front trees to the steeling rack, if it pulls out it becomes very difficult for the drivers to control the vehicle. This is because the front wheel is no longer in alignment with the other wheel. The vehicle can therefore could with a moving or stationary object.
• Steering work: Mbonu (2003), States that the steeling can no longer be controlled by the drivers when it is locked. The inability of the driver to the vehicle to turn the vehicle from danger can need to road accident.

Environmental road factors

The nature of the road which a vehicle moves through can need to road accident in the following ways.

• Road design: Dangers (2004), Said that accident are sometimes caused by road design. This usually occurs when traffic control signs are poorly placed there by blocking the view of incoming traffic at inter section there by resulting in dangerous turning by drivers on busy roads.
• Bad bridges: Bridges are said to be bad when they are narrow or weak. A narrow bridge becomes very dangerous when two vehicles coming from different direction approach it at high speed. The two vehicles may collide or one of them might go of the road and crash into the heaving loaded vehicle whose weight cannot carry Gordon (2004).

Miscellaneous factor: Nwachukwu (2006), Observed that other factors can result in road accident and they include.

1. Careless pedestrians
2. Distraction from passengers
3. Bad weather
4. Vehicle defects
5. Blind head lights

 Health implication of road accident

The health implications of road accident are basically classified into two depending on the severity of the accident after it has occurred. Thus includes:

• Loss of lives: Accident has resulted in the loss of so many lives in our society. This usually has an effect on the family if the victim is the already winner of the family.
• Illness: According to Folcin (2003) traffic accident is a major cause of disease in the society. When a victim of an accident sustains an injury on any part of his body, and there is bleeding, if he is not given prompt treatment, he can become anaemic.
• Disabilty: According to Evans (2006) in his opinion said that the effect of road accident on the victim is the disability. He explained that disabilities that are associated with road accident is either permanent personal disability (PPD) or Permanent temporary disability is one that is irreversible e.g. losses of the auditory organ which can affect the heavy ability of the victim. While permanent temporary disability can be reversed. E.g. a broken aim after some mouth the victim can still use the hand as normal.

Other health implication of road accident

There are, also other health implication of road accident that affect drivers, passengers and pedestrians is one way or the other. These are highlighted below:

Financial loss: Road accident lead to the loss of money and properties money can be lost to accident by the driver of a transport company.

• By driver: He may not be able to earn more than his salary, and that salary that would have been used for feeding himself and his family will be used in treating injuries or effecting repairs on damaged properties.
• By company: The Company will have financial loss when money is speed for medical treatment of the driver.

Burial expense in case of death compensation for disability, replacement and repair of damaged vehicle or properties Likely court cases.

Time lost:

According to Learning (2006), time is lost when an accident occurs time that would have been spent on other activities such as hobbles and recreation will be spent in the hospital. Time is also lost in other way such as investigating accident report writing attending burial ceremonies etc.

Loss of reputation:

The driver of a transport company can lost his reputation as a good driver if his vehicle is always involve in road accident thus giving his to board vehicle and further with draw from that transport company to another. The driver can further Lost his job in that company, when he is reported to his employer (Odibo, 1998).

Damage of properties

Chibuzue (2006) stated that road accident is next to disaster in terms of damages to properties, properties worth millions of naira can be destroyed when two vehicle collide.

Injury

Drivers and passengers can sustain injuries which can be fatal. These injuries need injuries, broken bone, etc.

 The role of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in preventing accidents

Ndubuisi (2005) stated that the death roll in Nigeria as a result problem which requires immediate attention. He further said that attention has been placed in road traffic safety in Nigeria since the early eighties when concerned citizens agreed to set up a road traffic marshal corps in the western state of Nigeria. This lead to the formation of the federal road safety commission (FRSC) by legislation in loss to climate the occurrence of road accident, the commissions was established and backed up with an enabling decree 15 of 1988 which was subsequently amended in 1992.Otherwise known as FRSC Act Cap141 laws of the federation.

One of the highlight of this amendment is the power to patrol on all road as against federal roads. However, for road traffic rules and regulation to be effective, they must be enforced by an established body. This is where the federal road safety commission marshals come in. They are mainly concerned with preventing accidents on the highways, especially with enforcing safety rules on the road such as no overtaking, wrong packing etc. They also educate drivers, motorists and other members of the public on the proper use of vehicles on the highways. They conduct research into the causes of motto accidents and prevent them by putting into use the result of such research. They also ensure that driver of vehicle are not under aged and they possess their drivers license in all cases vehicle of defaulting drivers are penalized through legal persecution (Olojoba, 2009)

Thus therefore implies that the federal road safety commission marshals amidst their functions enforce regulation and patrol all roads to ensure compliance and also co-operate with other bodies, agencies and groups involve in road safety activities and thus they ensure the road accident is reduced to the best minimum, thereby eliminating the problem.

General preventive measure to road accident

• Keep your vehicle in good shape, tires, brakes, mirrors, windows and lights,
• Drive defensively, maintain distance and obey speed limits.
• If conditions are poor,  rain, wind, snow, dust, dark, adapt your driving
• Don’t hesitate to go slower than posted limits.
• Don’t drive unless you feel up to it, if you’re tired – pullover and rest a while.
• Drugs: Don’t drive at all.
• Keep your attention on the road avoid fiddling with cell phones, radios and whatever.
• Leave yourself enough time – stress and speeding is behind lots of accidents.

References

Afolabi A.E. (2007). Management of industrial safety and loss prevention (unpublished project work)

Fosser R. (2007). Prevention of road accident behavioural, adaptation an bag and antilock brakes among taxi driver, Handel Publishers U.S.A

Herrich H.W. (2008). Prevention of road accident. McGraw Hill Publishers. New York

Jegede E.J. (2005): Spatio – temporal analysis of road accident in Oyo state. Vol. 290 Programme Press Ibadan.

Nwachukwu A.E (2006):  Introduction to safety in transportation. International University Press, Enugu.

Olojoba A.O. (2009) Environmental management an indispensable tool for good housekeeping, and safety operational (unpublished)

Olurunda P.A (2004) Auto mobile traffic and air pollution in a developing country signal education services Ibadan.

Reagan .A. and Henry. L. (2005) Interactive high way safety design model: Preventive model public roads magazine

Udoh, C. (2000). Factors in the causation of auto mobile accident on Nigerian road: Nigerian School of Health Journal Vol.3 no 1

Udoh E. (2002) measures of the prevention of Auto mobile Accident in Nigerian road Nigerian school of Health Journal Vol. 6 no 1

Unuraye  .L .O. and Olojoba A.O (2003) fundamentals of industrial. Ama Ohoror Printing Press Ughelli

Uzomere E.O (2003): Road traffic accident causes, effects and prevention. Oxford Printing Press Ibadan.