Assessment of Drivers’ Behaviours and Near-Miss Occurrences at Unsignalized Intersections in Port Harcourt: A Chi-Square Analysis

Abstract

Road traffic crashes remain a leading cause of death and injury in developing countries, and unsignalized intersections are recognised as high-risk locations where competing traffic streams cross without signal control. In Port Harcourt, Nigeria, weak enforcement and mixed traffic conditions make driver behaviour a critical determinant of intersection safety. This study examined the relationship between observed driver behaviours and near-miss occurrence at three unsignalized intersections in Port Harcourt: Rivers State University, Agip and Rumukrushi junctions. Field data were collected using a structured observation checklist and operational definition guide, manual tally sheets, a field notebook, stopwatch and measuring tape, with operational definitions kept consistent with Highway Capacity Manual and Highway Safety Manual concepts and MUTCD-type traffic control device principles. A total of 890 approach movements were observed, of which 245, representing 27.5 percent, resulted in a near miss. Four behaviour categories were recorded: speeding, failure to yield, distracted driving and safe driving. A chi-square test of independence examined the association between behaviour category and near-miss occurrence at each intersection. Results showed a statistically significant association between driver behaviour and near-miss occurrence at all three intersections, with speeding and failure to yield accounting for the largest shares of near misses, while safe driving recorded the lowest rates. Vehicle-to-vehicle conflicts, at 65.3 percent, were more frequent than vehicle-to-pedestrian conflicts, and 60 percent of near misses occurred during peak periods. Targeted enforcement, driver education and low-cost geometric improvements are recommended for the studied intersections.