Drivers’ Behaviour and Risk Perception among Haulage Companies in Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the risk perception influence on drivers’ behaviour (violations) among haulage companies in Rivers State, Nigeria. A total of 210 copies of questionnaire was administered among 20 haulage companies and the retrieved questionnaire were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequency counts, percentage and spearman rank. The findings revealed that haulage drivers hardly ever involve in violations such as “pull out of a junction so far that the driver with the right of way has to stop and let you out” (41.4%), “stay in a motorway lane that you know will be closed ahead until the last minute before forcing your way into the other lane” (67.6%) and never disregarded the speed limit on a residential road (70.7%); however, they occasionally drive so close to the car in front that it would be difficult to stop in an emergency (51.0%). From the spearman rank analysis, it was revealed that there is a statistically significant relationship between the Risk Perception Index (RP_Index) and Ordinary Violation (OV_index) (where p-value < 0.05 and p = 0.000). The correlation coefficient (r) of the analysis showed that the relationship between RV_Index and AV_index is weak and positively correlated (were r = 0.256). It was concluded that the extent of risk perception by the haulage drivers have significant relationship with their violation behaviour, and such relationship tends to be weak and positive.