Causes of Cement Trucks Accidents on the Major Routes Connecting Obajana Cement Plant and Rivers State in Nigeria

Abstract

This study was conducted to ascertain the causes of cement trucks accidents on the three major routes (Routes 1, 2 & 3) connecting Obajana Cement Plant and Rivers State in Nigeria. Data were obtained from questionnaire administered to all truck drivers plying the three designated routes and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results obtained showed that all the drivers are male, many of which had first degree or its equivalent for Route 1 (45%) and senior secondary certificate for Route 2 (54.5%) and Route 3 (52.2%). Many (37.5%) of the drivers plying Route 1 have been driving for ≥10 years on that route. For Route 2, majority (52.6%) have been driving for 4-6 years, while for Route 3, many (39.1%) have been driving for 7-9 years. Majority of the drivers (77.2%) agreed that they have been involved in accident with the company’s trailer along these routes, with highest (45.1%) of the accidents occurring at 61-80 KPH, often with the road barrier, at bad portions of the road and involving the front of the vehicle, with tyre rupture, as the commonly reported vehicle-related problem at the time of accident. Statistically significant relationship was established between driving experience and road accidents. However, no statistically significant relationship was found between ages, educational qualification, routes travelled and road accidents. The study concluded that environmental factor particularly bad road, vehicle-related problems most especially tyre rupture and brake failure, and human error in form of dangerous driving are the leading causes of most accidents involving Dangote cement trucks on the roads connecting Obajana Cement Plant and Rivers State in Nigeria.