Analysis of the driving behaviour of micra taxi drivers in Ibadan, Nigeria.
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Date
2023
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Department of Geography, Faculty of Social science. Obafemi Awolowo University.
Abstract
This study examined the socio-economic and driving characteristics of Micra taxi drivers in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. It also described the types of driving behaviour and the spatial pattern of driving behaviour of the drivers; analysed factors accounting for different driving behavioral pattern among the drivers; and examined the nature of the association between drivers’ characteristics and their driving behaviour in the study area. These were with a view to determining the types and factors influencing driving behaviour of Micra taxi drivers in the study area. Descriptive research design was adopted by the study. Primary and secondary data were used in the study. Primary data were collected through field observation of Micra taxi drivers driving behaviour, focus group discussion with drivers, and from the administration of commuters’ questionnaire. The sampling frame for the study consisted of Micra taxi drivers and commuters in all the 11 local government areas (LGAs) in Ibadan. In selecting the drivers and commuters of Micra Taxis, random sampling technique was used. A sample size of 770 (20%) Micra taxis was randomly selected for naturalistic observation from the 3,850 Micra taxis registered in the area. For the administration of commuters’ questionnaire, major routes plied by Micra taxis and adjoining streets were selected from each of the eleven LGAs, through multistage sampling technique. Based on the 2020 projected population of the LGAs (5,345,538), a sample size of 0.01 percent (535) of the population of commuters’ was randomly selected for administration of questionnaire. The selected commuters must have used Micra taxi a day before the interview. Four focus group discussions consisting of 10 drivers each were conducted with Micra drivers in four of the 11 LGAs. Secondary data on routes used by Micra taxi and other relevant documents was extracted from archives of the Federal Road Safety Corps. Data collected were analysed using percentage distribution, Relative Important Index (RII), Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), correlation, multiple regression and factor analysis. The results showed that 84.7% of the Micra drivers were adults (30-60 years), while the youths (18-29 years) accounted for the remaining 14.8%. All the drivers were male. The dominant types of poor driving behaviour were; reckless (53%), risky (16.3%) and distracted (6.75%) driving behaviours. In terms of results from qualitative data, most of the drivers in the focus group discussions agreed that they drive recklessly and risky in their approach to other road users. The results also showed homogeneous spatial pattern in driving behaviour (F=2.103 – 2.797, ≤ 0.05). The major factors affecting behavioral pattern the drivers were; drivers’ carefree attitude and excesses (RII = 0.768), scouting for passengers (RII=0.724), driver's temperament (RII= 0.674), road condition (RII=0.643), and traffic situation - congestion and delay (RII=0.634). Lastly, there was an association between drivers/vehicle characteristics and driving behavior; whereas drivers age was inversely associated with selected behaviour (“reckless”, “risky” and “self-willed”) (β = -1.91 0.21, ≤ 0.05); “availability of side mirror” and “condition of taxi” were heterogeneously (partly positive or negative) with the behaviour. The study concluded that the major types of driving behaviour among Micra taxi drivers in the study area were risky and reckless driving behaviours and that the main factors influencing the behaviour were drivers’ carefree attitude and excesses.
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xx, 229p.
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Citation
Oladepo, O. (2023) Analysis of the driving behaviour of micra taxi drivers in Ibadan, Nigeria. Department of Geography, Faculty of Social science. Obafemi Awolowo University.