Effects of Traffic Control Technology and Traffic Officers on Road Traffic Regulation in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State

Abstract

This study investigated effects of traffic control technology and traffic officers on road traffic regulation in Ado-Ekiti. Specifically, it examined the perceived effectiveness of automated traffic control systems such as Closed Circuit Television (CCTV), traffic lights, speed cameras and the role of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) in enforcing traffic laws. A descriptive survey design was adopted. The population comprised motorists, commercial drivers, and commuters in Ado-Ekiti metropolis. Using multistage sampling, 400 respondents were selected from 5 major junctions: Okeyinmi, Ijigbo, Ajilosun, Basiri, and Adebayo. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire titled "Traffic Regulation Effectiveness Questionnaire TREQ" with Cronbach's α = 0.87. Research Question 1 was analyzed using mean and standard deviation, while Research Question 2 and hypotheses were tested using multiple regression and ANOVA at 0.05 level of significance. Results showed that traffic lights M = 3.52, SD = 0.61 were perceived as most effective technology, while traffic officers' presence M = 3.48, SD = 0.58 had strong deterrent effect. Regression analysis revealed that traffic control technology β = 0.41, p <.005 and traffic officers β = 0.33, p <.005 significantly predicted effective traffic regulation, explaining 48.2% of variance. However, epileptic power supply and poor maintenance reduced technology effectiveness. It was concluded that technology and human enforcement are complementary. Recommendations include installation of solar-powered traffic lights, training of traffic officers on ICT, and public enlightenment campaigns.