Assessment of the Knowledge and Practice of Fitness to Drive among Commercial Long Distance Drivers in Benin City

K C Okafor,O H Okojie,E C Azuike

doi:10.4236/ape.2018.82019

Abstract

Commercial long distance driving is progressively growing and accounts for significant part of the socio-economic life of the populace as individuals and families travel from one destination to another. Driver’s role in road safety is attracting global attention as a component of the tripod system consisting of the road user, road environment and vehicle system. Unfortunately, most drivers are unaware of the need to have regular driver’s fitness assessment. This study aimed at assessing the drivers’ knowledge and practice of fitness to drive among commercial long distance drivers in Benin City, Edo State. A descriptive cross sectional study design was used, and data were 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 and focus group discussion guide. The results showed that 114 (36.2%) were within the age group of 31 - 40 years. Ninety-one (28.9%) were in the 41 - 50 years age group and almost all the respondents 311 (98.7%) were males while 4 (1.3%) were surprisingly females. Of the 315 respondents, 177 (56.2%) were aware of “medical examination for drivers”. More than half (54.3%) of commercial drivers had poor knowledge of fitness to drive. Over three quarters (79.7%) had poor practice of fitness to drive. The respondents who were not seeing a doctor for treatment were less likely (B = -0.845) to have good knowledge of fitness to drive compared to those who were being treated by a doctor with odds of 0.446. This was statistically significant (p = 0.038). Of all the predictors of good practice of fitness to drive, good knowledge of fitness to drive and history of occurrence of RTA were statistically significant predictors. Most commercial drivers had poor knowledge and practice of fitness to drive. It is recommended that health education and enlightenment should be done by transport park management. Fitness to drive should be enforced among drivers by road safety and drivers licensing agencies.

Highlights

Road deaths and injuries despite being largely preventable are massively wasteful, destroying lives beyond those of the actual victims, limiting future productivity and draining money from economies
The respondents who were not seeing a doctor for treatment were less likely (B = −0.845) to have good knowledge of fitness to drive compared to those who were being treated by a doctor with odds of 0.446
Commercial long distance drivers play a vital role in the socioeconomic life of most Nigerians, as people need to move from place to place, their health, fitness to drive as well as the state of their vehicles are of public health importance

Summary

Introduction

Road deaths and injuries despite being largely preventable are massively wasteful, destroying lives beyond those of the actual victims, limiting future productivity and draining money from economies. Road safety can form a unique bond between the public, private and voluntary sectors in tackling one of the major social ills—preventable road deaths and injuries (OECD, 2008; ROSPA, 2012). Medical conditions likely to affect driver’s fitness include blackouts, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, musculoskeletal conditions, neurological conditions such as epilepsy, dementia and cognitive impairment due to other causes, psychiatric conditions, substance misuse/dependency, and sleep disorders, vision problems (Austroads, 2000; WHO, 2007; NHTSA, 2009; NTC, 2012). A driver can be classified as fit to drive or unfit to drive. This assessment is done by a qualified medical practitioner (Austroads, 2000; NHTSA, 2009; NTC, 2012)

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