Road Space Users’ Perception and Analysis of Road Traffic Conflicts in Bauchi Central Business District, Bauchi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Road traffic conflicts are a major but neglected global transport challenge which is influenced by the risky driving behaviour or other attitudes of road space users such as pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and others. Conflicts in the use of motor vehicles on road transportation are inevitable even when traffic conflict mitigating facilities such as speed humps, traffic signs and others are provided. Development triggers transportation and vice versa. Without a corresponding increase in traffic conflict mitigating facilities or strategies to increase capacity for coping with increased traffic volume, the resultant effect is an increase in auto crashes and fatalities. In order for planners to respond efficiently and effectively to traffic conflict issues in neighbourhoods, business districts and regions, there is a need to incorporate the views of motorist, cyclists, pedestrians and others who are the road space users. The study adopted a survey-based approach and sampled 120 road space users consisting of 55 motorcyclists, 30 motorists, 20 tricycle operators and 15 pedestrians. The study discovered that the promotion of publicly-owned public transport is the major strategy recommended for reducing traffic conflicts in Bauchi Central Business District.

Keywords: Traffic conflict, Road space, Public transport operators, Pedestrians, Planning