Abstract

Road traffic crashes (RTCs) are among the leading causes of injury and death worldwide. However, the burden of RTCs is not spread evenly. Developing countries like Nigeria which exist within global south bear the higher brunt of RTCs. This analysis examined how road traffic crash (RTC) related injuries and deaths in Kano State varied in space and time as well as demographic attributes from 2017 to 2024 using secondary data sourced from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). Similarly, the study investigated how the distributions of crashes individuals in years, ages, sexes and locations varied in Kano State in Nigeria. We used geographic information system (GIS) tools to do spatial analysis and heat mapping to find high-risk locations. We carried out an engineering audit to assess road conditions of safety at selected hotspots. Victims occur more in the dry season months, indicating a distinct seasonal pattern in the results. More than 74% of injuries in adult males were sustained and about 79% was the contribution of adult’s males to fatalities. Thus, exposure of adult males to Road Traffic Injuries, RTA is observed to be a major concern. GIS mapping revealed clusters of fatalities in places like Gaya, Kasuwar Dogo, Riruwai, while injuries hotspots were found in Kofa, Dakatsalle, Wudil Secretariat. According to the engineering audit, these locations suffered from poor road conditions, lack of signage and limited enforcement. This study highlights the importance of utilizing spatial, demographic, and infrastructure data for specific intervention. Recommendations are to improve the design of roads, introduce local traffic calming measures, enhance education of road users, and strengthen enforcement of traffic laws. In the end, understanding how a RTC occurs in Kano will help road safety planning bid for sustainable strategies that are evidence based.

Key words: Road accident, road safety, population dynamics, road traffic crashes, spatiotemporal analysis