Assessment of Causes and Design Solution to Road Traffic Accident Along Onitsha-Owerri Expressway in Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

The incessant road crashes on Onitsha-Owerri road is worrisome. It has become a norm that a day will not pass by without a record of accident on that road. This prompted the researchers to assess the dominant factors of such incidence and proffer solution. 300 questionnaires were prepared and distributed in the study area to source information from drivers, out of which 267 participated. The SPSS tool was used to analyze the data obtained from the respondents. The findings showed different causes of accidents which include driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, uninspected vehicles, bad roads, and overloading. But the major factor found is purported wrong establishment of roadblocks at hilly, supper elevation and sharp bend using for checkpoint. The study recommends the construction of a toll gate with checkpoint on a good terrain at Oba and Awo-Omamma. The researcher sketched a toll gate with checkpoint, height barrier to avert overloading and a digital camera that will serve as a point of inspection. This would eliminate all unprofessional and unwanted road block/checkpoints in the area and creates an avenue for good revenue which will be a benefit to our economy. The issue of overloading would be tackled at the tollgate, where road height barriers are positioned to stop drivers from carrying excess loads and a weighing bridge would be positioned at the side of the toll gate to measure the weight of overloaded vehicles.