Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS): An Approach to Traffic Congestion Challenges in Enugu Meteropolis

Mobility is a necessity but the consequence is the resultant congestion from increase in traffic volume. At a time the solution was the construction of more transport infrastructures, but in the face of a persistent decrease in land other methods of tackling the ever increasing transport problems gave birth to systems such as Intelligent Transport Systems. This study attempts to assess the role of Intelligent Transport System in solving the problem of traffic congestion by identifying the existing system of traffic management in Enugu Urban and determining the potential for a more effective traffic management system through intelligent transport systems. Primary sources of data were employed. Using purposive sampling and simply random sampling 400 road users and 122 staff of Enugu State Ministry of Transport were interviewed through well-constructed questionnaires with a return rate of 94.5% and 94% respectively. Descriptive statistics were employed. The results were compiled using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The study revealed that Automated Traffic Signal and Control, Traffic Wardens, Channelization to Road Signs; are the existing systems of traffic management and was found to be ineffective in tackling the challenges of traffic congestion. It was also discovered that the introduction of some forms of Intelligent Transport Systems would go a long way in improving the control and management of traffic. The study therefore recommends the integration of Intelligent Transport Systems for operational efficiencies and inter-jurisdictional coordination benefits that result in comprehensive and improved transport system management. {"references": ["Adeleke, O. O & Jimoh, Y. A. (2005). Potential Benefits of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) in Nigeria. USEP: Journal of Research in Civil Engineering 2, 46-56.", "Atubi, A. O. (2010), Road Traffic Accident Variations in Lagos State, Nigeria: A Synopsis of Variance Spectra. Journal of African Research Review. Vol. 4, No. 2, Pp. 197-218.", "Bo\u0161njak et.al (2006), Development of Project Evaluation Methodology for Intelligent Transport Systems. Zagreb, Croatia: Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences. Department of Intelligent Transportation Systems & ITS Croatia Association, Vukeli\u0107eva 4, HR \u2013 10000. Available from Marko Matulin.", "Chukwurah, G. O (2009). Transportation and Traffic Challenges in Enugu Urban. Thesis presented to the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Nigeria.", "Ekene-Okoro, M. (2017). Lagos launches Intelligent Transport System, e-ticketing. The Nation.", "Ezell, S. (2010). Explaining International IT Application Leaderhip: Intelligent Transportation Systems. Washington D.C: The Information Technology & Innovation Foundation.", "Filani, M. O. and Gbadamosi, K. T. (2007) Spatial and Temporal Pattern of Road Traffic Accident Occurrences in Nigeria: 1970-1995. Nigerian Geographical Journal, Vol. 5, No. 1, Pp. 55-70", "Mandzuka, S. (2015). Intelligent Transport Systems; Selected Lectures. Zagreb, Croatia: Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences.", "NISER (2003). Understanding Poverty in Nigeria. NISER review of Nigerian development 2001/2002. NISER and SISERA.", "Onakomaiya, S. O. (1988): Unsafe at any Speed (Towards Road Transportation for Survival) Inaugural Lecture, University of Ilorin.", "Oyesiku, O. K. (2002), \"From Womb to Tomb. 24th Inaugural Lecture\", Transport Studies Unit (TSU). Traffic management in the federal capital city (Abuja) and its Environs. Final report prepared for the Federal Ministry of Transport, Abuja.", "Tom, M. V. (2014). Intelligent Transportation System - I. In M. V. Tom, Transportation Systems Engineering (pp. 48.1-48.22). Bombay: IIT.", "World Bank (2006). Report on Nigeria: Urban Transport in Crisis, Washington, D.C."]}