Abstract
Background: A driver’s vision is an important human factor necessary for safe driving. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the functional vision status of drivers in Nigeria and to establish its relationship with road traffic accidents (RTAs). Setting: Designated road lay-bys and motor parks in Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used for this study, with a sample size of 3521 vehicle drivers. Twenty-seven states and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja participated in the study. Participating drivers were interviewed, and clinical eye examinations were conducted by a team of optometrists at designated Federal Road Safety Commission road checkpoints and motor parks in the country. Results: The mean age of the drivers was 46.3 ± 10.9 years. Of the 3500 participants, 3080 (88%) were men and 2780 (79.4%) had a driving licence. The percentage of drivers who underwent an eye test before being issued a licence was generally low (median, 43.5%). A history of RTA was reported by 8.3% of the drivers. The prevalence of visual impairment was observed amongst 7.5% of drivers (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.6% – 8.5%), whilst the prevalence amongst private drivers was 6.1% (95% CI, 4.6% – 7.9%). Drivers with visual impairment were nearly two times (adjusted odds ratio, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.06–2.77) more likely to be involved in RTA compared to those without impairment. Conclusion: This survey has demonstrated the relationship between poor vision and the occurrence of RTA. All stakeholders must work together to ensure the safety of lives and property on our roads.
Highlights
The sense of sight is important for discerning obstacles and navigating whilst driving, which is why having good eyesight is a requisite for safe driving
The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) uses the term road traffic crash, the reason being that most traffic crashes are not accidents because they could have been prevented.[1,2]
Visual field analyser should be considered in future research. This survey has shown a high prevalence of vision impairment amongst Nigerian drivers and that drivers with visual impairment were nearly two times more likely to be involved in Road traffic accidents (RTAs) when compared with those without impairment
Summary
The sense of sight is important for discerning obstacles and navigating whilst driving, which is why having good eyesight is a requisite for safe driving. An estimated 1.2 million people are killed in road crashes each year and as many as 50 million are injured. Projections indicate that these figures will increase by about 65% over the 20 years unless there is a new commitment to prevention.[1] The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) uses the term road traffic crash, the reason being that most traffic crashes are not accidents because they could have been prevented.[1,2] Road traffic accidents are common in Nigeria, and the reported risk factors include mechanical fault, bad road, wet road and human factors.[3]. A driver’s vision is an important human factor necessary for safe driving
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