Application of Computer Technology in Road Traffic Control in Enugu State

ABSTRACT

The study was carried out to determine the extent to computer technology can be applied in road traffic control in Enugu state. In carrying out the research, four research questions and four null hypotheses were formulated for the study. The population for the study was 1296 persons. This consists of 460 Federal Road Safety Corps, 416 Vehicle Inspection Officers and 420 Road Traffic Police in Enugu state. Yaro Yamane's formula in Uzoagulu (2011) was used to determine the sample size of 214 Federal Road Safety Corps, 204 Vehicle Inspection Officers and 205 Road Traffic Police respectively, resulting in a sample size of 623 respondents. The questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. This consists of 60 items developed from the reviewed literature and used to elicit responses from respondents in Enugu State regarding the research questions. Copies of the questionnaire were distributed with the assistance of five research assistants from University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State. 95% of the questionnaire was returned. Data collected were analyzed using mean while anova was used to test the four null hypotheses at significance level of 0.05. After carrying out the necessary analysis, it was revealed that computer technologies are available to a low extent in road traffic control in Enugu State; also it was revealed that computer technologies can be applied to a great extent in road traffic control in Enugu State; it was revealed that computer technologies can be applied to a great extent in the reduction of road accidents in Enugu State; it was also revealed that computer technologies can be used to a great extent to detect road traffic defaulters in Enugu State. It was 11 recommended that government of Enugu State should make available computer technology such as Intelligent Transport Systems, Traffic Signs, Speed sensors, and Radar, Computerized safety management systems, E-Call emergency machines, Air bag, seat belt, Mobile sensors, Traffic lights, Speed Cameras, Road Sensors, Electronic Signs, Semantic-web technologies, Infrared detectors, Ultrasonic detectors, Microwave radars, Magnetic loop, Camera based systems, and Laser based systems; these devices should be applied in the reduction of road accidents and detecting of road traffic defaulters in Enugu State. Suggestions for further study were also made.