The Challenges and Possible Remedies to Poor Pedestrian Safety Considerations along and Across Nigerian Busy Roads

Abstract

This study is an attempt to investigate into the challenges faced by pedestrians using Nigerian roads with the aim of proposing remedies to the poor safety considerations for pedestrians using the Onitsha-Enugu expressway as a case study. The Awka segment of the highway was of interest, since Awka is the Capital city of Anambra State with obvious commercial activities going on at both sides of the busy dual carriage expressway. Due to some financial, environmental and health issues associated with transport, soft modes (walking and/or cycling) have been seen as the most sustainable modes of transportation.1 Pedestrian safety considerations is, therefore, a key aspect of Traffic Engineering. For this study, key sections of the highway with high pedestrian crossing traffic were identified by direct observation, the peak hour volumes of pedestrians at the selected sections were gotten using manual counting. Three locations were critical and they are; Unizik Junction, Regina Junction, and Aroma junction. Vehicular flow at the selected areas was also gotten by manual counting. The highest vehicular traffic flow was observed on Wednesday evenings at Aroma, which was as high as 4690Veh/hr for both straight ahead movements and turning. At the same time, a volume of 1431 pedestrians was counted at Aroma which is high, pointing to the fact that crossing difficulties would be experienced by pedestrians at that intersection. At Unizik junction, up to 34% of the pedestrians still prefers to cross on the carriageway instead of using the pedestrian bridge. At the Regina Junction, no crossing facility was provided. An assessment of Pedestrian safety considerations at these locations was made and they were found to be either unacceptable, inadequate, and/or inefficient which is typical for all classes of Nigerian roads. It was recommended that Nigerian Government at all levels needs to overcome these decades of street and road construction projects that have routinely ignored the provision of facilities that would resolve pedestrian related issues on our highways.