Assessment of Factors Influencing Drivers’ Speeding Behaviour in Calabar Metropolis
*,
DOI: 10.67571/njeru.2025.027686
Published: December 16, 2025 | Issue: Volume 2, Issue 2
Page No. 76–86
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Email: andersonetika@unicross.edu.ng
1 Department of Civil Engineering, University of Cross River State. Calabar-Nigeria
2 Department of Civil Engineering, University of Cross River State. Calabar-Nigeria
Received: August 18, 2025 Reviewed: September 14, 2025 Accepted: December 16, 2025
Abstract
Speeding remains one of the leading contributors to road traffic crashes in urban areas, particularly in rapidly growing cities with increasing traffic demand. This study assessed the factors influencing drivers’ speeding behaviour in Calabar Metropolis using a data-driven approach. Speed observations were collected from 960 vehicles across three major corridors including Murtala Mohammed Highway, Marian Road, and UNICAL Abraham Odia Stadium Road representing different road environments within the metropolis. Descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation, and inferential analysis were employed to examine the influence of driver demographics, vehicle type, and road characteristics on speeding behaviour. The results revealed that the average vehicle speed was 81.99 km/h, exceeding typical urban speed thresholds, with extreme speeds reaching 181.82 km/h, indicating the presence of high-risk drivers. The speed distribution was positively skewed, suggesting that a small group of drivers contributes disproportionately to overall speeding risk. Gender analysis showed that 39.0% of female drivers and 36.1% of male drivers exceeded the speed threshold. Vehicle type significantly influenced driving speed (p = 0.034), with motorcycles and taxis recording the highest mean speeds, reflecting the operational pressures associated with commercial transport. Road type also played a critical role, as UNICAL Abraham Odia Stadium Road recorded the highest proportion of speed limit violations (48.19%), despite having lower mean speeds than the highway corridor. The findings indicate that speeding behaviour in Calabar is strongly shaped by road characteristics, vehicle type, and operational pressures rather than demographic attributes alone. The study highlights the need for targeted enforcement, improved speed management strategies, and the deployment of intelligent transport technologies to enhance road safety in the metropolis.
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