TITLE:
Assessment of the Knowledge and Practice of Fitness to Drive among Commercial Long Distance Drivers in Benin City
AUTHORS:
K. C. Okafor, E. C. Azuike, O. H. Okojie
KEYWORDS:
Fitness to Drive, Medical Fitness, Knowledge, Practice
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Physical Education,
Vol.8 No.2,
May
25,
2018
ABSTRACT: Commercial long distance driving is progressively growing and accounts for significant part of the socio-economic life of the populace as individuals and families travel from one destination to another. Driver’s role in road safety is attracting global attention as a component of the tripod system consisting of the road user, road environment and vehicle system. Unfortunately, most drivers are unaware of the need to have regular driver’s fitness assessment. This study aimed at assessing the drivers’ knowledge and practice of fitness to drive among commercial long distance drivers in Benin City, Edo State. A descriptive cross sectional study design was used, and data were collected from 315 commercial long distance drivers and their vehicles. Study was done from January to October, 2013. Respondents were recruited using systematic random sampling technique. Study instruments included structured interviewer administered questionnaires and focus group discussion guide. The results showed that 114 (36.2%) were within the age group of 31 - 40 years. Ninety-one (28.9%) were in the 41 - 50 years age group and almost all the respondents 311 (98.7%) were males while 4 (1.3%) were surprisingly females. Of the 315 respondents, 177 (56.2%) were aware of “medical examination for drivers”. More than half (54.3%) of commercial drivers had poor knowledge of fitness to drive. Over three quarters (79.7%) had poor practice of fitness to drive. The respondents who were not seeing a doctor for treatment were less likely (B = -0.845) to have good knowledge of fitness to drive compared to those who were being treated by a doctor with odds of 0.446. This was statistically significant (p = 0.038). Of all the predictors of good practice of fitness to drive, good knowledge of fitness to drive and history of occurrence of RTA were statistically significant predictors. Most commercial drivers had poor knowledge and practice of fitness to drive. It is recommended that health education and enlightenment should be done by transport park management. Fitness to drive should be enforced among drivers by road safety and drivers licensing agencies.