Factors contributing to road crashes among commercial vehicle drivers in the Kintampo North Municipality, Ghana in 2017.

OBJECTIVE

The study assessed driver, vehicular and road-related factors associated with road crashes (RC) in the Kintampo North Municipality.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Kintampo North Municipality.

DATA SOURCE

Demographics, vehicular and road usage information on registered drivers at Ghana Private Road and Transport Union (GPRTU) and Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA) in Kintampo North Municipality.

MAIN OUTCOME

involvement in road crashes and related factors.

RESULT

A total of 227 drivers were approached for this study. None of them declined participation. They were all males. Most were between 28-37 years (30%). The proportion of drivers that reported RC ever involvement in at least one RC was 55.5% (95% CI: 8.0%, 62.1%). In the bivariate analysis, drink and drive changed lane without signalling, ever bribed police officer, drove beyond the maximum speed limit, paid a bribe at DVLA for driving license, violation of traffic signals were found to be associated with RC involvement (p<0.05). Drivers who violated traffic signals had 2.84 odds of being involved in road crashes compared to those who did not [aOR; 2.84 (95%CI:1.06,7.63)].

CONCLUSION

The proportion of drivers ever involved in road crashes was high. The major factor that is associated with RC involvement was a violation of the traffic light signals. Continuous driver education and enforcement of road traffic regulations by the appropriate authorities could curb the road crash menace in the Municipality.

FUNDING

The authors funded this work.