Road traffic accidents statistics in Nigeria reveal a serious and growing problem with absolute fatality rate and causality figures rising rapidly. The majority of developing countries, accident occurrence and released deaths are relative to either population or number of vehicles. Ironically, in Nigeria, studies have indicated that an increasing number of accidents [1]. Atubi [2] has accompanied better facilities in terms of good quality and standardised road. This is contrary to the trends in countries where even the level of the sophisticated road network and the volume of vehicular traffic are higher [2,3]. Nigeria loses about 80 billion naira annually to road accidents of all subjects that are involved in road traffic accidents in Nigeria, 29.1 percent suffer disability and 13.5 percent are unable to return to work [4-6].

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), road traffic injuries caused an estimated 1.35 million deaths worldwide in 2016 [7]. That is, one person is killed every 26 seconds on average. 

Only 28 countries, representing 449 million people (seven percent of the world’s population), have laws that address the five risk factors of speed, drunk driving, helmets, seat-belts and child restraints. Over a third of road traffic deaths in low and middle income countries are among pedestrians and cyclists. However, less than 35 percent of low-and middle-income countries have policies in place to protect these road users [8].

In August 2020, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 74/299, declaring 2021-30 the second decade of action for road safety (UN, 2020). In October 2021, the World Health Organisation (WHO) officially launched the second decade of action with the publication of the Global plan for the decade of action for road safety 2021-30 (WHO, 2021). 

We need new traffic safety strategies. This requires a paradigm shift, a change in the ways that risks are measured and potential safety strategies are evaluated/audited [9,10]. Reducing road traffic accidents is a global challenge and succeeding will require the involvement of multiple stakeholders at the global, national and community levels [6,11-13].

Although there has been some improvements made by the Federal Road Safety commission (FRSC) in conjunction with the police force but there are still lots of room for improvement. Presently, both of them do not have sufficient resources for checking speed violations, careless   and   dangerous driving and parking offences among others. Unfortunately, such an important issue as reducing road accidents in Nigeria has not yet received the adequate attention that it deserves.

Road Traffic Crashes in Nigeria 

Road crashes are identified as one of the leading causes of death in Nigeria, especially among age groups 5 to 29. Though unfortunate, road accidents have become a normal and recurring incident in the country. Infact, hardly a day goes by without the news of a road traffic crash resulting in loss of lives and/or permanent disability.

Between 2013 and 2020, at least 41,709 persons have lost their lives to road crashes in Nigeria (Figure 1).

An analysis of the data shows that except for 2014, all other years recorded a minimum of 5,000 deaths annually. Also, in the last four years, there has been an increase in the number of road traffic crashes in Nigeria. In 2017 the number of people killed in road traffic accidents stood at 5,049. The following year it increased to 5,181. By 2019, the total number of deaths from road traffic crashes jumped to 5,483, then increased to 5,574 by the end of 2020.

The regular spate of automobile accidents on Nigerian roads and resultant avoidable loss of precious lives should be a matter of concern to all well-meaning Nigerians. It is not surprising that (WHO, 2015) report states that one in every four road crash deaths in Africa occurs in Nigeria and hardly goes a day does by without the occurrence of road accidents. Also, public health experts have globally concedes road traffic accidents as one of the leading cause of sudden death. In the last few years, aside insurgency and banditry, injuries and deaths resulting from road traffic accidents are on the rise in Nigeria. 

Clearly, there is need to view road traffic accidents as a national issue that needs urgent attention aimed at reducing road traffic casualties. According to National Bureau of Statistics (2022), Nigeria is among countries with the highest road accident rates in the World having more than 11,800 road traffic causalities in the fourth quarter of 2021. Among these figure, 10.2 thousand were injuries, while 1.7 thousand are registered deaths. The implication of this is that the country is losing young and productive population.

Nigeria has one of the highest rates of road traffic casualties and there is an increasing burden of road accidents and injury-related deaths on the country. Again the response of the government in controlling this scourge has been grossly inadequate.

Conceptual Framework

Vision Zero: This was first proposed by the Swedish government in 1997 and has been continuously studied in recent years [14-16]. It has been gradually recognised worldwide as the direction needed for traffic safety work based  on  a  system  approach .  Vision  Zero  proposed a long-term goal that no one should be killed or seriously injured as a result of road traffic crashes in the road transport system. In addition, it states that the responsibility for road safety should be changed from road users to road designers representing a break in traditional thinking [15].

Road Traffic Safety Culture

Is an important part of the entire traffic system as it is a complex internal factor that can affect the behaviour of road users. Based on the consideration and analysis of its inpact a safe system will be built, including the 3Es and Extra Es. It can also be summarised as 3E+a. in this context, a represents the proposed measures to improve traffic safety in addition to the basic 3Es in the safety system, which can be adapted to new traffic problems arsing from changing times, such as the improvement of the emergency response system [17-18] (Figure 2).

The Vision of Sustainable Safety 

Originating from the Netherlands in the 1990s was also based on the improvement of the road traffic system. The Netherlands road safety strategy aims to create a transportation system with no crash casualties by considering human aspects as the primary factors and taking efforts to reduce the potential risk of traffic systems [19].

Such changes in strategies and unprecedented ambitions make Sweden’s Vision Zero and the Netherlands’ sustainable safety different from traditional traffic safety strategies and also achieve significant outcomes in traffic safety.

Causes of Road Traffic Accident Deaths in Nigeria

Accident is defined as anything which happens by chance, anything occurring unexpectedly. Road  traffic  accident  is therefore an unexpected phenomenon that occurs as a result of the operation of vehicles. Accidents can be fatal, resulting in the death of the road user. Accident don’t just happen, they are caused. In other words, every accident in relation to transport is not just a mere occurrence but has been instituted as a result of one factor or the other. A good awareness and knowledge of causes of road traffic accidents will help us to avoid them. Eventually, this will bring about the desired goal of safety consciousness of road users in our society. 

Figure 1: Number of People Killed in Road Traffic Crashes in Nigeria (2013-20202)

Figure 2: A Conceptual Framework for Road Traffic Safety

Source: Morimoto, Wang and Kitano

The causes of road traffic accidents therefore, fall under three major categories viz-human factors, mechanical factors and the environmental factors, of these three categories, the human factors are said to be responsible for over 80 percent of all traffic crashes because the drivers operational ability is very critical to the causes and prevention of traffic accidents:

• The human factor: The human factors constitute about 80% of the cause of road traffic accidents recorded in the country. The major components of human factors are drivers, pedestrian, law enforcement agent and the engineer. Most drivers on Nigeria road are very rude, discourteous and have scant regard for human life. This has led to daily avoidable carnage on Nigeria roads with many losses of lives. Almost to the point of indisputability is the fact that, of virtually all the significant factors contributing to the alarming proportion of accidents on Nigeria roads, the human factor tops the list. Indicators to verify the claim are evident:

• Prevalent disregard of road traffic signs by road users

• Lack of proper training of drivers 

• Irresponsible driving habit particularly among teenage drivers

• Inexperience and incompetent drivers

• Over speeding, dangerous driving and total disrespect of traffic regulations, especially concerning speed limits

• Drink driving/or driving under the influence of drugs including herbal concentrations laced with spirit

• Lack of respect/consideration for other road users

• Impatience and negligence 

• Overloading of vehicles

• Fatigue

• Poor vision

The Mechanical Factor

The vehicle also constitutes one of the major factors of road traffic accident. Road safety however, goes beyond periodic check or prompt repair of vehicles. It should be a daily routine of care and check of all components of a vehicle. The main vehicle factors are defects in tyres, brakes and inputs all arising from poor maintenance of the vehicle. The global economic recession have badly affected the quality of products in the Nigerian markets such that people now favour the use of sub-standard products like Tokunbo tyres, spare parts and Tokunbo vehicles. These, coupled with over speeding and reckless driving, negate principles of safety when considered against the phenomenon of used vehicles. Any of those parts malfunction can eventually affect smooth driving, which in the end, can lead to serious accident. The different component of mechanical factor that resulted into accident are:

• Brake failure

• Burst tyres

• Engine failure

• Defective and dazzling lights

• Use of fake spare parts

• Poorly maintain vehicles

In essence, a deficient vehicle, an unserviceable car or a poor maintained automobile are all dangers with high probability to cause accidents on the highways.

• The Environment Factor: There is a strong debate within the context of Nigeria as to whether the high incidence of road accidents should actually be attributed to bad roads or, if they are not a paradoxical function of the good and modern highways that the country invested on so much. The contention is against the backdrop that despite the construction of new roads in the country, appreciable reduction has not been witnessed in accidents rates but rather seem to be increasing. In other words, there is need to focus on other factors particularly the human elements contributing to the disaster. Environmental factors include: 

• Bad road

• Weather conditions

• Dangerous bend

• Broken down/abandon vehicles 

• Animals not under control

• Obstruction on the road 

The causes of accidents has been listed to include speeding (4-5 percent), driving under the influence of alcohol and other psychoactive substances, non-use of motorcycle helmets, seat belts and child restraints, distracted driving, unsafe road infrastructure, unsafe vehicles, inadequate post-crash care and inadequate law enforcement of traffic laws [2,7,20,21].

Virtually all other causes are prevalent in Nigeria, especially, unsafe road infrastructure. Most of the road networks are in disrepair and can best be described as roads to hell where human lives are wasted daily. Given the humongous lives that are wasted on our roads across the country with the attendant socio-economic losses, all stakeholders must join forces to make Nigeria roads safe [3].

Effects of Road Traffic Accidents in Nigeria

In Nigeria, about 80 billion naira is lost to road traffic crashes annually. This economic lost includes the cost of property and public amenity damaged, the cost of medical treatment and the cost of productive lost due to the accident. This is a huge economic loss particularly for a country plagued with poverty [21].

When we talk about effects of road accidents, it is very vast. Within the scope of this article, we will consider majorly four (4) effects of road accident. 

Physical Effect of Car Accident

The more severe physical injuries associated with a car accident commonly include brain and head trauma such as a traumatic brain injury, neck injuries such as whiplash, neck strains or disk damage and back or spine injuries such as sprains, strains, fractures or disk injuries.

Physical injuries that are associated with long-term efforts are usually permanent disabilities such as amputation, paralysis or TBI’s which create a diminished mental capacity but soft tissue injuries that affect the tissue surrounding and connecting tendons, muscles and ligaments are also usually long term. This is why determining the extent of an injury and the potential for future pain and suffering is an important components to recovering from an auto accident [19].

Emotional Effect of Car Accidents

Some injuries are not immediately apparent after an accident but regardless of when an injury first appears, it can have a long-term effect. One of the areas in which car accident injuries typically are long lasting is those related to psychological or emotional trauma. The mental and emotional injuries after a car accident can include mental anguish, emotional distress, fear, anger, humiliation, anxiety, shock, embarrassment, random episodes of crying, loss of appetite, weight fluctuations, lack of energy, sexual dysfunctional, mood swings and sleep disturbances.

Social Effect of Car Accidents

The social consequences of road traffic accidents include loss of producitivty of the victims, the cost of the legal system, the cost of pain and suffering and loss of quality of life of the victim and their family. The loss of productivity represents a significant proportion of the total social costs. 

Economic Effect of Road Accident

World Bank (2019) has underscored the significance of reducing road traffic deaths and injuries as that would result in substantial long-term income gains for Nigeria and other low and middle income countries. Apart from the human losses that accident brings, road accidents are not economically sustainable. Studies estimate that road accidents come at a cost equivalent to about 3% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in countries with a high GDP per capital. The European commission calculates this cost based on the sum of four components the human cost, the lost of production, medical costs and administrative costs. Deaths on the road entail a cost of 3,273 euros per person, meaning the cost associated with the loss of life in 2018 would be 82 billion euros [22,23].

Unlike most countries where the departments in the Transport Ministry calculate the costs of road accident causalities, in a bid to identify the value of prevention, there is no such effort in Nigeria. But even at that, it is obvious that the costs are very high both in economic and human tolls. 

Intervention Measures for Nigeria 

As road safety systems develop, the main research themes over the years have focused on improving vehicles, road, driver skills and the effects of speed. Developments focusing on the system approach, involving different management and assessment systems to reduce the risk of crashes, have recently gained more attention. However, some of the interventions for Nigeria include:

• Seat Belts: No matter how you will drive there is always a chance that you will be involved in an accident. You cannot predict when it may happen. From statistical analysis of road traffic accidents in Nigeria since independence the chance that one will be injured in an accident in his life time is 1:3; that he may be killed in an accident is 1:9. The best protection inside the vehicle is the use of seat belts (Federal Road Safety Commission Highway Code, 1997). Similarly, the use of seat belts in Nigeria was optional, hence many vehicles are not fitted with seat belts. In those that have them, they are not being utilized by drivers and passengers alike. But currently, the Federal Road Safety Commission has made the use of seat belts compulsory to all motorists with effect from July 1^st 2005. In most developed nations especially Britain, a lot of money has been sunk into the implementation of the use of seat belts. The seat belt is an example of an active intervention for occupants because it requires some action on the part of the users. Its effectiveness in preventing injury and death in motor vehicle collisions has been well established by many earlier research studies

• Motorcycle Helmets: Safety helmet worn in the correct way and properly fastened in the most effective way could increase your chances of surviving an accident (Federal Road Safety Commission Highway Code, 1997). In the time past, various laws were enacted by Federal, State and Local governments to curb the excesses of the riders. These include the National Road Traffic Regulation of 2004 and FRSC Establishment Act 2007 to mention but a few. The acquisition of motorcycle helmets is well within the budgets of the people who afford motorcycles in this country. In addition, promulgating helmet laws has been associated with significant decrease in mortality and injuries sustained from motorcycle crashes [24]. When a motorcycle is acquired, purchase of an approved helmet should be encouraged or even mandatory in Low-Income Countries (LICs) given the feasibility and potential sustainability of this intervention.  Just like seat belts have proven effective in motor vehicle crash related injury reduction, motorcycle helmets have proved effective in motorcycle crash related injury reduction making motorcycle helmet laws a strategy with proven effectiveness. Infact, recent research findings in setting other than the United States corroborate the evidence for the effectiveness of mandatory motorcycle helmet laws [25-27]

• Speed Limits: Drivers often think that the faster they drive, the more they impress themselves and others. They fail to remember that anybody’s tyre can burst that accidents at high speed are more disastrous than accidents at low speed; that the vehicle is a machine and can fail at any time. At 100 kmph, your vehicle moves at 28 metres per second, just imagine where you could be in only one second if you veer off the road which is usually less than 12 metres wide [28]. The Federal Road Safety Commission also imposed speed limit for all categories of vehicles i.e., 100 kmph maximum speed for all private cars, 90 kmph for commercial vehicles and 60 kmph for trucks. But common sense often dictates lower speed limits. Speeding on highways is a major cause of traffic crashes. The effect of speed on causing traffic related crashes, injuries and deaths has been documented in many settings [29,30]. For example, the 1995 repeal of the United States national maximum speed limit, allowing states to raise interstate speed limits, resulted in a 15% increase in fertilities in 24 states that raised speed limits. In Adelaide, Australia the risk of severe crash involvement was found to increase as vehicles speed increased. Infact, the over 20% reduction in traffic crashes and deaths in Brazil has been partly attributed to speed limits which have been posted on many roads since 1998 (Polidefigueiredo, n.d.)

• Public Education Targeting Motorists: Your safety depends on what you see and how you react. If you need spectacles to meet the official eye sight standard, wear them. It is an offence to drive with uncorrected defective vision. For example, a Nigerian study found a third of taxi drivers to have poor vision. Although the findings from a 1999 study revealed the ineffectiveness of driver education for young drivers [32], there is some evidence that general public education along with some behavioural modification that targets motorists may have some impact on road safety. One area is education of motorists on posted traffic  signs.   A   recent   study   in   three  countries i.e., United States, Sweden and United Kingdom, showed  that  comprehension  of  28  posted  traffic signs for drivers were related to years of driving experience [32]

• Database Development and Information Sharing: Whilst each agency requires developing a data base for effective planning of its operations, inter-agency collaboration and information sharing are also important to widen the prism of evolving one big road safety net spread all over the country

• Traffic Control by Signs: A thorough knowledge of traffic signs, signals, road and markings together with signals by authorized traffic officers are to ensure a smooth and safe traffic flows. You must know them and be able to recognize them immediately. In the case of regulatory signs such as stop at intersection, stop police, stop highway survey, no left turn, no right turn, No “U” turn, No entry for lorries, no waiting, etc, you must obey them without hesitation

• Research on causes of road traffic accidents in the country, especially their spatial and temporal patterns on a regular basis is recommended

In order to realise a safe transportation society where no one gets hurt, it is necessary not only to improve the transportation system and environment but also to build a system that supports mobility. Countries with advanced transportation systems have been gradually approaching the realisation of a safe transportation society by implementing different measures. The number of road traffic crashes has certainly decreased in these countries but this does not mean that fatalities and serious injuries have been reduced to zero, even in developed countries.

In Nigeria, road traffic crashes have become one of the leading causes of death in older children and economically active adults. Despite this burgeoning problems, little attention has been paid to road traffic injury prevention and treatment in Nigeria and most developing countries.

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