Drink and substance abuse for Nigeria’s commercial drivers

Worrying data has been revealed by a study of bus drivers in Nigeria’s mega-city and commercial centre, Lagos. The research revealed that 39% or 781 of the 2,002 bus drivers tested drive while under the influence of alcohol. Also revealed was the fact that 940 of the drivers have visual impairments, with 13% having been given special glasses. And 22% of the drivers, 441, tested positive for either marijuana or cocaine use (and in some instances both). In addition, 30% of the drivers (601) were revealed to b
October 4, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Worrying data has been revealed by a study of bus drivers in Nigeria’s mega-city and commercial centre, Lagos. The research revealed that 39% or 781 of the 2,002 bus drivers tested drive while under the influence of alcohol. Also revealed was the fact that 940 of the drivers have visual impairments, with 13% having been given special glasses. And 22% of the drivers, 441, tested positive for either marijuana or cocaine use (and in some instances both).

In addition, 30% of the drivers (601) were revealed to be hypertensive. The study was carried out as part of the Lagos State Motor Park Health and Safety Initiative programme. The study tested drivers from Under Bridge Motor Park and Alaagba Motor Park at the Iyana Ipaja Area. Following the study, Lagos State is toughening its campaign against alcohol and substance abuse amongst drivers. The study also highlights a more widespread problem in Nigeria, which has serious safety issues on its road network and with drink and drug use common amongst drivers.

Related Content

  • Police in Europe are getting tough on driving under the influence
    November 13, 2012
    Police in Europe are using tough enforcement to tackle the problem of drivers under the influence of drink and drugs. A series of measures have been employed to enforce drink driving and drug driving regulations across Europe. Police conducted more than 900,000 breath tests in a seven-day operation this summer. Of these, nearly 18,000 drivers tested positive for alcohol. Motorists were also checked for drugs in the operation. In total, 928,863 drivers were checked and there were 17,970 alcohol and 2,773 dru
    Read More
  • Smartphones provide serious threat to driving safety
    March 15, 2013
    Research into the risks posed by the use of smartphones by drivers has revealed extremely worrying results. An international study into this field has shown that using cellphones to send texts while at the wheel can deliver significant risks for vehicle occupants as well as others. The study has shown that sending texts while at the wheel presents a similar safety risk to being 25% over the legal limit for alcohol in the bloodstream. In addition the study has shown that using hands-free telephone technology
    Read More
  • Pan-European enforcement of driving laws due
    September 30, 2013
    Pan-European enforcement of driving regulations should catch offenders and help improve Europe’s road safety - Mike Woof reports. Agreements are being reached that will see Pan-European enforcement of driving regulations. Drivers will now face being penalised for any offences committed in other European countries. The change is due on 7th November 2013. After this date EU Member States will commence the cross border exchange of data relating to road traffic offences. For this scheme to work, eight offences
    Read More
  • Defective eyesight, a road safety concern?
    February 16, 2012
    Failing eyesight presents safety problems for Europe's older drivers. A new report highlights substantial variation in the assessment of drivers' vision across Europe, and recommends that Member States make moves to better assess drivers' vision. Checking the vision of drivers plays a valuable role in the EU's target of halving road deaths across the EU by 2020. The aim is to achieve this road safety improvement by legislative means that change driver behaviour, raise the technical standards of vehicles and
    Read More

Highlighted Content