Determinants of Road Traffic Crashes on the Accra- Cape Coast Highway in Ghana
Keywords:
Determinants of Road Traffic, Accra- Cape Coast Highway in Ghana, involvemen, risk compensationSynopsis
Certain in-vehicle engineering safety features have been found to be associated with measurable human behaviour feedback and thus crash involvement. The intended effects of road-safety measures are sometimes offset by behavioural adaptation among road users. For instance, the hypothesis of risk compensation implies that as interventions reduce the risk associated with particular actions individuals will choose riskier actions (e.g., driving faster). The study set out to test the risk compensation hypothesis on the Accra - Cape Coast highway. Guided by the Jorgensen and Abane (1999) Model for Road Traffic Accidents and Peltzman’s Risk Compensation Hypothesis (1975), the study employed a questionnaire and observation as the main data collection instruments. A total of 104 private car drivers responded to the questionnaire. Binary logistic regression and chi square statistic were used in evaluating the hypotheses- driver speed choice and driver risk taking behaviour and effect of road
improvement on road traffic casualties. The study found that driver speed choice and driver risk taking behaviour were a function of many factors including gender, age, driving experience, the particular car model one drives and the safety devices installed in it as well as one’s confidence that the safety devices would work in emergency situations . The study concluded that drivers show behavioural adaptation to safety devices in their vehicles and the highway condition and males are more likely than females to take risk.
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July 6, 2023
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