Pattern and Impact of Road Traffic Accidents on Human Security in Gondar City, Ethiopia

Abstract

The purpose of this study is assessing the pattern and impact of road traffic accidents on human security in Gondar City. To achieve the objective, a sequential explanatory research design was employed. The study used mixed research approach by which both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. In this study, a total of 76 samples participated, of which, 68 were traffic police and controls who filled questionnaires, 2 were officers of traffic police and control who held interview and 6 were victims of road traffic accidents. Data were collected using questionnaire, interview and focus group discussion. The quantitative data were analyzed by descriptive statistics using mean score and standard deviation; Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis techniques. The qualitative data were thematically analyzed in accordance with objectives of the study. Findings showed an observed total mean score of 3.45 above the critical mean (3.00) on the patterns of road traffic accidents and an observed total mean score of 3.61 above the critical mean (3.00) on human security. The correlation results showed that frequency pattern with a coefficient of .841; time pattern with a coefficient of .768; place pattern with a coefficient of .260 and road status with a coefficient of .796 had significant and positive relationships with human security at P ≤ 0.05 except road type which was insignificant with a coefficient of .187 at P > 0.05. The findings from the regression analysis showed that the five independent variables in combination explain 76% of human security being indicating 24% might be traced to other dimensions that haven’t been investigated in this study. Road status followed by frequency patterns were the highest predictors of human security. Based on the statistical test of the hypotheses, finally, it was found that road status followed by frequency patterns were the highest predictors having a significant effect on human security and accepted at P < 0.05 while time, place and road type were insignificant having no significant effect so that rejected at P > 0.05. It is concluded that the road traffic accidents in Gondar city had been attributed mainly to frequency pattern and road status being time, place and road type patterns considered as they had contributed to the effect in combination although insignificant. In the final point, the study suggested the need for giving due attention to the current status of human security in Gondar city with more consideration to the patterns of RTAs particularly of the frequency and road states patterns of RTAs.