Eyes on the road
- 19
- Feb
Driving is a highly visual task. It is extremely important that everyone who drives sees clearly enough in the distance for the safety of members of the community and the driver himself.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) annual report for 2013, using a total population of 160 million people in Nigeria, the total road length of 194,000 kilometres and total vehicle population of 10 million, the number of persons per km of road was 825.
The risk of road traffic accidents (RTA) increases with exposure, leading to over 6,000 deaths and over 40,000 people injured in 2013. Motor cars (37%), motorcycles (22%) and buses (15%) were involved in RTA.
We interviewed and conducted full eye examinations including colour vision and full visual field assessment on 215 out of the estimated 270 commercial drivers in the four major motor parks in Ife Central LGA, to determine the effects of their visual functions on the occurrence of road traffic accidents. A large proportion (84%) of the drivers had no eye test before they were issued driving licenses and 22% did not undergo any form of driving test. About 9 out of 10 drivers who had visual impairment in the better eye had been involved in RTA. Refractive error was found in 17% of the drivers, but none of these wear corrective glasses. Cataract (14%) and glaucoma (6%) also contributed to visual impairment. Visual field defect, abnormal stereopsis, and color vision impairment did not have any significant association with RTA (Oladehinde, Adeoye et al, 2007).
Besides visual impairment, there was a significant association between RTA and alcohol consumption, which is common (58%) amongst commercial drivers. Other central nervous system stimulants like kolanut, marijuana, and cigarette were also associated with increased risk of RTA (Oladehinde,.… Adeoye et al, 2009).
Motorcycle (Okada) accidents had been on the rise since its use for commercial purposes in Nigeria about 2 decades ago (Falope, 1991). We conducted a case-controlled study to determine the prevalence and pattern of eye disorders existing among commercial motorcycle riders (CMRs) in Ile-Ife. The observed prevalence of subnormal visual acuity (<6/18-3/60) was 3% (Taiwo,….Adeoye et al, 2014).
Strategies for the prevention of eye injuries are mainly health education, improved supervision of children at play, change in the method of corporal punishment and provision of protective devices at work. As the Yorubas say “Igi gogoro ma gun mi l’oju, okeere l’a tin wo o” (to prevent a twig from gouging the eye, you must look at it from afar).
Early diagnosis and prompt management of eye injuries will improve visual prognosis. Vehicle drivers and motorcycle riders should be encouraged to get their eyes checked at least once every two years.