Luxurious Buses As Means Of Night Journey In Nigeria: Challenges and Implications For Transportation Planning.

Abstract

While, past studies on road safety have been restricted to accident, recent events today show that the issue of safety goes beyond accident. This study investigates the level of safety of night journey using luxurious buses in Nigeria and examines how it could be improved. 150 questionnaires which were designed to elicit related information on road safety in the night were randomly administered to patrons and operators of luxurious
buses. Result shows that one of the major reasons for the attack by armed robbers on luxurious buses is to deprive commuters of their cash and luggage. It was also discovered that journey times are often prolonged during the day when buses pass through cities because of traffic congestions and reduced during the night when congestions are reduced. This indeed is an advantage. However, night journeys are prone to attacks of armed robbers and accidents of which assistance may not be readily available on time. The study therefore recommends that security personnel trained to combat armed robbers should be used as escorts and secret intelligent personnel be employed by transport companies to monitor the activities of their workers as well as commuters patronizing them. Metal screening equipments should also be used at the point of embankment not only for the passengers but as well as their luggage. Travelers should adopt the new methods of money
transfer to discourage robbery cases on our roads. Passengers should also keep their traveling plans secret as much as possible as a way of fostering safety.

Keywords: night journey, armed robbers, luxurious buses and police escorts

Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies and Management Vol. 1 (3) 2008: pp. 52-62