Factors Influencing Commercial Drivers' Recklessness

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Majority of the commercial drivers ignorantly depend on one form of drug or the other for their various daily activities. such drug include tobacco, Indian hemp, cocaine, morphine, Heroine, Alcohol, Epherdrine, Madras, caffeine, Glue, Barbiturates, Amphetamines etc (Daniel, 2010).

The costs of fatalities, injuries and death due to road traffic accidents have a tremendous impact on societal well-being and socio economic development. Road traffic accidents are among the leading causes of death and injury world-wide, causing an estimated 1.2 million deaths and 50 million injuries each year (WHO, 2007). In Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State, for instance, road traffic accidents are common among commercial drivers due to psycho social factors such as family background, environment, family trauma, get rich quick, phone use, passenger distraction among others. 

Preliminary research has shown that most of the commercial drivers operating in Lagos State take alcohol in the morning which would make them drive under influence, and give them extra energy, motivation, and fearlessness to speed limit, and this inevitably put the lives of the passengers at risk of possible elimination, working parents are killed or injured, many women have turned to premature widows, parents lost their wards in road traffic accident as a result of reckless driving and indiscriminate parking at the blind spot leaving children who relied solely on these deceased persons for sustenance.

Despite these challenges, the psycho-social factors predicting commercial drivers’ recklessness in Lagos State have not been studied empirically and thus the character and magnitude of the traffic problem in the area remain unknown. It is against this backdrop that this research seeks to investigate psychosocial factors predicting commercial drivers’ recklessness with a special reference to Ojo LGA of Lagos State.

1.3 Purpose of the Study

The general objective of this study is to explore the effect of psycho-social factors on commercial drivers’ recklessness. Other specific objectives of this study are to:

a. To examine the influence of drug use on commercial drivers’ safety in Lagos State.

b. To assess the relationship between drunkenness and commercial drivers’ recklessness.

c. To investigate the link between over-speeding and road traffic accidents.

d. To find out the influence of use of seat-belt on commercial drivers’ safety in Lagos State.

1.4 Research Questions

The undertaking of this research project will beam a searchlight on the following research questions;

1. What is the influence of drug use on commercial drivers’ safety in Lagos State?

2. Is there any relationship between drunkenness and commercial drivers’ recklessness?

3. To what extent is over-speeding related to road traffic accidents?

4. Will the use of seat-belt have any influence on commercial drivers’ safety in Lagos State?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

The researcher intends to test the following hypotheses:

1. There would be significant relationship between drug use and commercial drivers’ safety in Lagos State.

2. There would be relationship between drunkenness and commercial drivers’ recklessness

3. There would be significant relationship between over-speeding and road traffic accidents.

4. The use of seat-belt has no influence on commercial drivers’ safety in Lagos State.

1.6 Significance of the Study

This study was a bold attempt to bring the challenge posed by this hidden psycho-social factors predicting commercial drivers’ recklessness to help reduces cases of road traffic accidents so as to influence social action. It is the researcher’s sincere hope that its findings will add to knowledge on the subject and help fill, to a reasonable extent, the gap in our knowledge on the subject in the Nigerian setting in general and Lagos State in particular.

The findings of this study are expected to create awareness in commercial drivers on the horrors of recklessness, drug use, driving under the influence of alcohol, road rage, excessive speeding, overloading, fatigue, dangerous overtaking, and lack of consideration while driving, all this are ramped under psycho-social factors.

The outcomes of this study will be significant to future researchers and scholars especially those in the field of psychology. 

1.7 Scope of the Study

The scope of the study encompasses the psychosocial factors predicting commercial drivers’ recklessness. The study area is Ojo LGA of Lagos State, from where sample will be drawn. Ojo became a Local Government in May 1989. The Local Government area houses some industries, the foremost being the Volkswagen of Nigeria [ Von], an automobile assembly plant specializing in manufacturing an assembly of light and medium sized vehicles. Ojo is a tourist haven that attracts a lot of people from the Igba-land, Olojo beach, Ologe lagoon, Badagry creek. The land use of Ojo Local government include, Lagos State University (LASU), Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) and the national post graduate medical college. 

1.8 Organization of the Study

The study is divided into five chapters. Chapter one contains the general introduction, research problem; objectives of the study, scope of study, significance of the study, etc. 

Chapter two concentrates on review of relevant literature on psychosocial factors predicting commercial drivers’ recklessness; under the auspices of conceptual clarification, empirical review and appropriate theoretical foundation for the subject matter.

Chapter three focuses on the research methodology; which presents the population, sample and sampling techniques, data collection instruments, validity and reliability of the instruments, techniques of data collection and the method for data analysis.

Chapter four focuses on the data presentation, analysis and interpretation of data and chapter five contains the summary of the study; conclusion drawn and recommendations.

1.9 Definition of Terms

Definitions of words/phrase are not based on dictionary meanings but on usage by the researcher:

? Psychosocial: This term was used in the study to cover the interaction between social and psychological factors which defined the behaviour that commercial drivers exhibit.

? Reckless: This variable defines such behaviour by drivers without caring or showing regard for dangers and its possible consequences.

? Commercial Drivers: It covers drivers who are in the service of moving people are their goods from one point to another for an agreed amount of money.

? Drugs: The term is used in this report to refer to psychotropic drugs, i.e. chemical substances that affect the brain and the body.

? Alcohol: This is liquor that contains ethanol and has the potential to intoxicate drinkers.