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Sam, E. F., Odame, P. K., & Amoah-Nuamah, J. (2023). Predictors of distractive activities to walking in Accra, Ghana. Urban, Plannng and Transport Research, 11,
Abstract
Walking is a fundamental mode of transport for many people globally, with immense health and environmental benefits. However, increased walking is associated with an increased risk of road traffic crashes and injuries, especially where traffic enforcement is poor, and pedestrians could easily be distracted. Despite this, a plethora of evidence exists on driver distraction; however, there is a dread of evidence of pedestrian distraction (i.e. distracted walking), particularly in Africa. This paper uses a quantitative methodology to examine the predictors of distractive activities to walking in Accra, Ghana. The study surveyed 400 pedestrians within Accra’s Central Business District (CBD). A questionnaire was deployed via Kobo Toolkit and Jamovi was used in analysing the data. The study observed that three of the top four distractive activities to walking were digital devices-related (e.g. the use of mobile phones). We found that listening to music, making, receiving phone calls, and conversing with other people while walking are the main distractive activities. The binary logistic regression model found sex, age, level of education, occupation, reasons for walking, weekly time for walking and time for common trips as significant predictors of distractive activities to walking.
Walking is a fundamental mode of transport for many people globally, with immense health and environmental benefits. However, increased walking is associated with an increased risk of road traffic crashes and injuries, especially where traffic enforcement is poor, and pedestrians could easily be distracted. Despite this, a plethora of evidence exists on driver distraction; however, there is a dread of evidence of pedestrian distraction (i.e. distracted walking), particularly in Africa. This paper uses a quantitative methodology to examine the predictors of distractive activities to walking in Accra, Ghana. The study surveyed 400 pedestrians within Accra’s Central Business District (CBD). A questionnaire was deployed via Kobo Toolkit and Jamovi was used in analysing the data. The study observed that three of the top four distractive activities to walking were digital devices-related (e.g. the use of mobile phones). We found that listening to music, making, receiving phone calls, and conversing with other people while walking are the main distractive activities. The binary logistic regression model found sex, age, level of education, occupation, reasons for walking, weekly time for walking and time for common trips as significant predictors of distractive activities to walking.
Odame, P. K, Sam, E. F., Amoako-Sakyi, R. O & Arko, B (2023). State of public transport services to Ghana's disability population: lessons from public transport operators in the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 7,
Abstract
Access to public transport services is crucial to the enjoyment of various life-enhancing opportunities by persons with disabilities (PWDs). However, the attainment of such services is confronted with varying levels of difficulties due to the non-conformity between transport service delivery and PWDs’ needs. While many players like transport operators and vehicle manufacturers contribute to the delivery of transport services, this study examines the responsiveness of public transport operators to the travel needs of commuters with disabilities in Accra. Using a qualitative research approach, 24 public transport operators were conveniently sampled from 3 popular and busy transport terminals in Accra, the capital city of Ghana. Thematic content analysis was employed using key constructs that emanated from the transcripts. The findings reveal that none of the public transport providers/operators had any knowledge of Ghana’s Disability Act of 2006 and its transport provision. By this, all activities tailored to the disability population were generally informed by common sense despite refuting calls to acquire disability-friendly vehicles or support systems. It is recommended that sensitization on the transport provision of Ghana’s Disability Act should be heightened by the Ministry of Transport given its ability to improve transport services to the disability population.
Access to public transport services is crucial to the enjoyment of various life-enhancing opportunities by persons with disabilities (PWDs). However, the attainment of such services is confronted with varying levels of difficulties due to the non-conformity between transport service delivery and PWDs’ needs. While many players like transport operators and vehicle manufacturers contribute to the delivery of transport services, this study examines the responsiveness of public transport operators to the travel needs of commuters with disabilities in Accra. Using a qualitative research approach, 24 public transport operators were conveniently sampled from 3 popular and busy transport terminals in Accra, the capital city of Ghana. Thematic content analysis was employed using key constructs that emanated from the transcripts. The findings reveal that none of the public transport providers/operators had any knowledge of Ghana’s Disability Act of 2006 and its transport provision. By this, all activities tailored to the disability population were generally informed by common sense despite refuting calls to acquire disability-friendly vehicles or support systems. It is recommended that sensitization on the transport provision of Ghana’s Disability Act should be heightened by the Ministry of Transport given its ability to improve transport services to the disability population.
Tamakloe, R., Sam, E. F., Bencekri, M., Das, S., & Park, D. (2022). Mining groups of factors influencing bus/minibus crash severities on poor pavement condition roads considering different lighting status. Traffic Injury Prevention, ,
Abstract
Objective: This study employs a data mining approach to discover hidden groups of crash-risk factors leading to each bus/minibus crash severity level on pothole-ridden/poor roads categorized under different lighting conditions namely daylight, night with streetlights turned on, and night with streetlights turned off/no streetlights. Methods: The bus/minibus data employed contained 2,832 crashes observed on poor roads between 2011 and 2015, with variables such as the weather, driver, vehicle, roadway, and temporal characteristics. The data was grouped into three based on lighting condition, and the association rule data mining approach was applied. Results: Overall, most rules pointing to fatal crashes included the hit-pedestrian variable, and these crashes were more frequent on straight/flat roads at night. While median presence was highly associated with severe bus/minibus crashes on dark-and-unlighted roads, median absence was correlated with severe crashes on dark-but-lighted roads. On-street parking was identified as a leading contributor to property-damage-only crashes in daylight conditions. Conclusions: The study proposed relevant countermeasures to provide practical guidance to safety engineers regarding the mitigation of bus/minibus crashes in Ghana.
Objective: This study employs a data mining approach to discover hidden groups of crash-risk factors leading to each bus/minibus crash severity level on pothole-ridden/poor roads categorized under different lighting conditions namely daylight, night with streetlights turned on, and night with streetlights turned off/no streetlights. Methods: The bus/minibus data employed contained 2,832 crashes observed on poor roads between 2011 and 2015, with variables such as the weather, driver, vehicle, roadway, and temporal characteristics. The data was grouped into three based on lighting condition, and the association rule data mining approach was applied. Results: Overall, most rules pointing to fatal crashes included the hit-pedestrian variable, and these crashes were more frequent on straight/flat roads at night. While median presence was highly associated with severe bus/minibus crashes on dark-and-unlighted roads, median absence was correlated with severe crashes on dark-but-lighted roads. On-street parking was identified as a leading contributor to property-damage-only crashes in daylight conditions. Conclusions: The study proposed relevant countermeasures to provide practical guidance to safety engineers regarding the mitigation of bus/minibus crashes in Ghana.
Sam, E. F. (2022). On the intention to cycle for work and school trips in a developing country. GEO: Geography and Environment, 9,
Abstract
Cycling, as a mode of transport has immense health benefits. However, as pertains in other developing countries, cycling is not a preferred transport mode in urban Ghana, a development that is attributable to the lack of cycling infrastructure, safety and cultural perceptions. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behaviour, this study explored the intention to cycle for work and school trips (i.e., commuter cycling) in Winneba among 260 staff and students of the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana by fitting structural equation models. The results revealed low bicycle ownership and use among the respondents occasioned by some barriers. Additionally, it was found that the extent to which the respondents feel able and confident to cycle for work and school trips (i.e., their perceived behavioural control) was the most important predictor of their intention to cycle for work and school trips. Study respondents' attitudes toward cycling and subjective norms (i.e., social pressures to cycle) did not significantly influence the intention to cycle for work and school trips. Consequently, the study proffered relevant measures to promote commuter cycling on university campuses and by extension in the wider society.
Cycling, as a mode of transport has immense health benefits. However, as pertains in other developing countries, cycling is not a preferred transport mode in urban Ghana, a development that is attributable to the lack of cycling infrastructure, safety and cultural perceptions. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behaviour, this study explored the intention to cycle for work and school trips (i.e., commuter cycling) in Winneba among 260 staff and students of the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana by fitting structural equation models. The results revealed low bicycle ownership and use among the respondents occasioned by some barriers. Additionally, it was found that the extent to which the respondents feel able and confident to cycle for work and school trips (i.e., their perceived behavioural control) was the most important predictor of their intention to cycle for work and school trips. Study respondents' attitudes toward cycling and subjective norms (i.e., social pressures to cycle) did not significantly influence the intention to cycle for work and school trips. Consequently, the study proffered relevant measures to promote commuter cycling on university campuses and by extension in the wider society.
Sam, E. F. (2022). How effective are police road presence and enforcement in a developing country context?. Humanities & Social Sciences Communications, 9,
Abstract
Traffic enforcement and associated penalties are essential in any successful road safety strategy. Available literature identifies both traditional and automated traffic enforcement. Ghana employs traditional traffic enforcement involving visible police officers enforcing traffic rules and regulations on the roadways. This phenomenological study explores the perceived effectiveness of police road presence as a road safety strategy in the Ghanaian context. Data for the analysis came from in-depth interviews of 42 people recruited as a convenience sample (comprising 25 commercial drivers, 12 private drivers, and five traffic police officers of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service). The study results suggest widespread driver road tactics to outwit the traffic police officers, police extortion and driver bribery (road traffic corruption), and punishment avoidance. These behaviours undermine deterrence and negate the seriousness and expected general deterrent effect of the police road presence and enforcement. This study provides an initial exploration of the effectiveness (or otherwise) of police road presence and enforcement in the context of a developing country. Additional studies are, however, needed to explore this phenomenon further.
Traffic enforcement and associated penalties are essential in any successful road safety strategy. Available literature identifies both traditional and automated traffic enforcement. Ghana employs traditional traffic enforcement involving visible police officers enforcing traffic rules and regulations on the roadways. This phenomenological study explores the perceived effectiveness of police road presence as a road safety strategy in the Ghanaian context. Data for the analysis came from in-depth interviews of 42 people recruited as a convenience sample (comprising 25 commercial drivers, 12 private drivers, and five traffic police officers of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service). The study results suggest widespread driver road tactics to outwit the traffic police officers, police extortion and driver bribery (road traffic corruption), and punishment avoidance. These behaviours undermine deterrence and negate the seriousness and expected general deterrent effect of the police road presence and enforcement. This study provides an initial exploration of the effectiveness (or otherwise) of police road presence and enforcement in the context of a developing country. Additional studies are, however, needed to explore this phenomenon further.
Changing incentives for vehicle use: Zero emissions areas and congestion pricing (Taming traffic webinar series, Part 3)*Enoch F Sam*Senior Lecturer*Institute for Transportation & Development Policy (ITDP)*Virtual*11 August 2021*11 August 2021
Damsere-Derry, J., Adanu, E. K., Ojo, T. K., & Sam, E. F. (2021). Injury-severity analysis of intercity bus crashes in Ghana: A random parameters multinomial logit with heterogeneity in means and variances approach. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 160,
Abstract
Travel by bus is an efficient, cost-effective, safe and preferred means of intercity transport in many advanced countries. On the contrary, there is huge public sentiment about the safety records of intercity buses in low- and middle-income countries given the increasing bus-involved road traffic crashes and high fatality rates. This study sought to model the injury severity of intercity bus transport in Ghana using the random parameters multinomial logit with heterogeneity in means and variances modelling technique to account for unobserved heterogeneity in the dataset. The dataset involves crash data from the 575 km long Accra-Kumasi-Sunyani-Gonokrom highway in Ghana. Four discrete crash outcome categories were considered in this study: fatal injury, hospitalized injury, minor injury, and no injury. The study observed that crashes involving pedestrians, unlicensed drivers, and drivers and passengers aged more than 60 years have a higher probability of sustaining fatal injuries. Also, speeding, wrong overtaking, careless driving and inexperienced drivers were associated with fatal injury outcomes on the highway. The incidence of intercity bus transport crashes involving larger buses and minibuses were also found to more likely result in fatalities. The probability of hospitalized injury increased for crashes that occurred in a village setting. Given these findings, the study proposed improvement of the road infrastructure, enforcing seatbelt availability and use in intercity buses, increased enforcement of the traffic rules and regulations to deter driver recklessness and speeding as well as improving the luminance of the highways. Additionally, apps that have features for customers to rate intercity bus operators, the quality of services provided, and also have the option to report reckless driving activities can be developed to promote safe and inclusive public transport in the country.
Travel by bus is an efficient, cost-effective, safe and preferred means of intercity transport in many advanced countries. On the contrary, there is huge public sentiment about the safety records of intercity buses in low- and middle-income countries given the increasing bus-involved road traffic crashes and high fatality rates. This study sought to model the injury severity of intercity bus transport in Ghana using the random parameters multinomial logit with heterogeneity in means and variances modelling technique to account for unobserved heterogeneity in the dataset. The dataset involves crash data from the 575 km long Accra-Kumasi-Sunyani-Gonokrom highway in Ghana. Four discrete crash outcome categories were considered in this study: fatal injury, hospitalized injury, minor injury, and no injury. The study observed that crashes involving pedestrians, unlicensed drivers, and drivers and passengers aged more than 60 years have a higher probability of sustaining fatal injuries. Also, speeding, wrong overtaking, careless driving and inexperienced drivers were associated with fatal injury outcomes on the highway. The incidence of intercity bus transport crashes involving larger buses and minibuses were also found to more likely result in fatalities. The probability of hospitalized injury increased for crashes that occurred in a village setting. Given these findings, the study proposed improvement of the road infrastructure, enforcing seatbelt availability and use in intercity buses, increased enforcement of the traffic rules and regulations to deter driver recklessness and speeding as well as improving the luminance of the highways. Additionally, apps that have features for customers to rate intercity bus operators, the quality of services provided, and also have the option to report reckless driving activities can be developed to promote safe and inclusive public transport in the country.
Bridging transportation researchers (BTR) conference*Enoch F Sam*Senior Lecturer*Transportation Research Board (TRB)*Virtual*11 August 2020*12 August 2020
Making transport resilient to pandemics*Enoch F Sam*Senior Lecturer*International Road Federation (IRF)*Webinar*25 March 2021*25 March 2021
Women and Transport Africa*Enoch F Sam*Senior Lecturer*Flone Initiative*Virtual*25 November 2020*27 November 2020
