Assessment of Road Safety in Relation to Public Transport Driver Behavior in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Zebider Nega

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajtte.20261105.14

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Assessment of Road Safety in Relation to Public Transport Driver Behavior in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Zebider Nega^*

Published in American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering (Volume 11, Issue 5)

Received: 3 August 2026 Accepted: 4 October 2026 Published: 28 October 2026

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Abstract

Road traffic accidents (RTAs) present critical socio-economic, environmental, and public health challenges in developing urban regions. Global crash metrics attribute over 90% of traffic collisions in low- and middle-income nations to human error and driver behavioral patterns. In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, public transit relies heavily on minibus taxis and city buses. Official crash metrics attribute 86% to 90% of traffic collisions in the city to driver errors and aberrant behavioral patterns. This study assesses road safety practices in relation to public transport driver behaviors in Addis Ababa using primary survey data (N=45) alongside 16-year historical crash trends (2002–2017). Statistical procedures—including K-Means Cluster Analysis, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation, and cross-tabulations—were executed via IBM SPSS Statistics. K-Means clustering established three distinct driver risk profiles: Young Novices (60.0%), Mid-Career Drivers (37.8%), and Senior Outliers (2.2%). Age (F=66.64, p<0.001) and driving experience (F=71.44, p<0.001) proved to be statistically significant predictors partitioning driver risk profiles. Younger drivers exhibited higher exposure to occupational fatigue (8+ driving hours daily), vehicle rental financial pressures, lower seatbelt compliance, and aggressive maneuvers.

Published in	American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering (Volume 11, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajtte.20261105.14
Page(s)	117-123
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Addis Ababa, Bus Drivers, Driver Behavior, Minibus, Public Transport, Road Safety, Traffic Accidents

References

[1]	Addis Ababa City Bus Service Bureau. (2026). Operational Fleet and Route Metrics Report. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[2]	Bulcha, J. (2017). Assessment of Road Safety and Traffic Collision Dynamics in Ethiopian Urban Corridors (Unpublished MSc thesis). Department of Civil Engineering.
[3]	Bulcha, J. (2024). Impacts of Transport Infrastructure and Driver Risk Behaviors on Road Safety in Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Sustainable Transportation, 18(2), 112–128.
[4]	Central Statistical Agency (CSA), & International Organization for Migration (IOM). (2021). Urban Migration and Demographic Dynamics in Addis Ababa. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[5]	Ellison, A. B., Bliemer, M. C., & Greaves, S. P. (2015). Evaluating Driver Behavior Profiling Using GPS and Spatio-Temporal Tracking. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, 59, 148–161.
[6]	Farooq, D., Moslem, S., & Jamal, A. (2019). Assessment of Driver Behavior Factors Affecting Road Safety Using AHP and Kendall's Coefficient. IEEE Access, 7, 165821–165833.
[7]	Federal Police Commission of Ethiopia. (2010). Annual Road Traffic Crash and Fatality Statistics Report. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[8]	Getachew, E., et al. (2023). Epidemiology of Road Traffic Collisions and Human Factor Impacts in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review. African Safety Science Journal, 11(3), 88–102.
[9]	Global Road Safety Facility. (2013). Road Safety Management Capacity Reviews and Safe System Projects.
[10]	Mazengia, E. M., et al. (2023). Qualitative Evaluation of Risky Driving Behaviors Among Public Transport Operators in Regional Ethiopia. Transportation Safety & Health, 15(1), 45–59.
[11]	Newman, S., et al. (2014). Aggressive driving, seatbelt non-compliance, and distracted driving practices in developing urban centers. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 65, 88–97.
[12]	Pahazri, N. F., et al. (2024). Applying the social model framework for driver behavior modification and intervention design. Journal of Transport & Health, 34, 101720.
[13]	Setyowati, D. L., Setyaningsih, Y., Suryawtani, C., & Lestantyo, D. (2024). Analysis of factors influencing traffic violations and road traffic accidents among young drivers. Journal of Public Health Research, 13(3).
[14]	World Health Organization. (2009). Global Status Report on Road Safety: Time for Action. Geneva, Switzerland.
[15]	Yang, M., et al. (2024). Analyzing abnormal driver habits and their impact on traffic collision severity. Analytic Methods in Accident Research, 41, 100310.
[16]	Yonas Minalu. (2014). Performance Evaluation of Addis Ababa Roads.

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APA Style

Nega, Z. (2026). Assessment of Road Safety in Relation to Public Transport Driver Behavior in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, 11(5), 117-123. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20261105.14

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ACS Style

Nega, Z. Assessment of Road Safety in Relation to Public Transport Driver Behavior in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Am. J. Traffic Transp. Eng. 2026, 11(5), 117-123. doi: 10.11648/j.ajtte.20261105.14

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AMA Style

Nega Z. Assessment of Road Safety in Relation to Public Transport Driver Behavior in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Am J Traffic Transp Eng. 2026;11(5):117-123. doi: 10.11648/j.ajtte.20261105.14

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@article{10.11648/j.ajtte.20261105.14,
  author = {Zebider Nega},
  title = {Assessment of Road Safety in Relation to Public Transport Driver Behavior in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia},
  journal = {American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering},
  volume = {11},
  number = {5},
  pages = {117-123},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajtte.20261105.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20261105.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajtte.20261105.14},
  abstract = {Road traffic accidents (RTAs) present critical socio-economic, environmental, and public health challenges in developing urban regions. Global crash metrics attribute over 90% of traffic collisions in low- and middle-income nations to human error and driver behavioral patterns. In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, public transit relies heavily on minibus taxis and city buses. Official crash metrics attribute 86% to 90% of traffic collisions in the city to driver errors and aberrant behavioral patterns. This study assesses road safety practices in relation to public transport driver behaviors in Addis Ababa using primary survey data (N=45) alongside 16-year historical crash trends (2002–2017). Statistical procedures—including K-Means Cluster Analysis, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation, and cross-tabulations—were executed via IBM SPSS Statistics. K-Means clustering established three distinct driver risk profiles: Young Novices (60.0%), Mid-Career Drivers (37.8%), and Senior Outliers (2.2%). Age (F=66.64, p<0.001) and driving experience (F=71.44, p<0.001) proved to be statistically significant predictors partitioning driver risk profiles. Younger drivers exhibited higher exposure to occupational fatigue (8+ driving hours daily), vehicle rental financial pressures, lower seatbelt compliance, and aggressive maneuvers.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Assessment of Road Safety in Relation to Public Transport Driver Behavior in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
AU  - Zebider Nega
Y1  - 2026/10/28
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20261105.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajtte.20261105.14
T2  - American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering
JF  - American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering
JO  - American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering
SP  - 117
EP  - 123
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-8604
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20261105.14
AB  - Road traffic accidents (RTAs) present critical socio-economic, environmental, and public health challenges in developing urban regions. Global crash metrics attribute over 90% of traffic collisions in low- and middle-income nations to human error and driver behavioral patterns. In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, public transit relies heavily on minibus taxis and city buses. Official crash metrics attribute 86% to 90% of traffic collisions in the city to driver errors and aberrant behavioral patterns. This study assesses road safety practices in relation to public transport driver behaviors in Addis Ababa using primary survey data (N=45) alongside 16-year historical crash trends (2002–2017). Statistical procedures—including K-Means Cluster Analysis, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation, and cross-tabulations—were executed via IBM SPSS Statistics. K-Means clustering established three distinct driver risk profiles: Young Novices (60.0%), Mid-Career Drivers (37.8%), and Senior Outliers (2.2%). Age (F=66.64, p<0.001) and driving experience (F=71.44, p<0.001) proved to be statistically significant predictors partitioning driver risk profiles. Younger drivers exhibited higher exposure to occupational fatigue (8+ driving hours daily), vehicle rental financial pressures, lower seatbelt compliance, and aggressive maneuvers.
VL  - 11
IS  - 5
ER  -

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Author Information

Zebider Nega

College of Road and Transport Engineering, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0004-5413-5899

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Nega, Z. (2026). Assessment of Road Safety in Relation to Public Transport Driver Behavior in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, 11(5), 117-123. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20261105.14

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ACS Style

Nega, Z. Assessment of Road Safety in Relation to Public Transport Driver Behavior in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Am. J. Traffic Transp. Eng. 2026, 11(5), 117-123. doi: 10.11648/j.ajtte.20261105.14

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AMA Style

Nega Z. Assessment of Road Safety in Relation to Public Transport Driver Behavior in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Am J Traffic Transp Eng. 2026;11(5):117-123. doi: 10.11648/j.ajtte.20261105.14

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajtte.20261105.14,
  author = {Zebider Nega},
  title = {Assessment of Road Safety in Relation to Public Transport Driver Behavior in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia},
  journal = {American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering},
  volume = {11},
  number = {5},
  pages = {117-123},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajtte.20261105.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20261105.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajtte.20261105.14},
  abstract = {Road traffic accidents (RTAs) present critical socio-economic, environmental, and public health challenges in developing urban regions. Global crash metrics attribute over 90% of traffic collisions in low- and middle-income nations to human error and driver behavioral patterns. In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, public transit relies heavily on minibus taxis and city buses. Official crash metrics attribute 86% to 90% of traffic collisions in the city to driver errors and aberrant behavioral patterns. This study assesses road safety practices in relation to public transport driver behaviors in Addis Ababa using primary survey data (N=45) alongside 16-year historical crash trends (2002–2017). Statistical procedures—including K-Means Cluster Analysis, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation, and cross-tabulations—were executed via IBM SPSS Statistics. K-Means clustering established three distinct driver risk profiles: Young Novices (60.0%), Mid-Career Drivers (37.8%), and Senior Outliers (2.2%). Age (F=66.64, p<0.001) and driving experience (F=71.44, p<0.001) proved to be statistically significant predictors partitioning driver risk profiles. Younger drivers exhibited higher exposure to occupational fatigue (8+ driving hours daily), vehicle rental financial pressures, lower seatbelt compliance, and aggressive maneuvers.},
 year = {2026}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Assessment of Road Safety in Relation to Public Transport Driver Behavior in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
AU  - Zebider Nega
Y1  - 2026/10/28
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20261105.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajtte.20261105.14
T2  - American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering
JF  - American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering
JO  - American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering
SP  - 117
EP  - 123
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-8604
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20261105.14
AB  - Road traffic accidents (RTAs) present critical socio-economic, environmental, and public health challenges in developing urban regions. Global crash metrics attribute over 90% of traffic collisions in low- and middle-income nations to human error and driver behavioral patterns. In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, public transit relies heavily on minibus taxis and city buses. Official crash metrics attribute 86% to 90% of traffic collisions in the city to driver errors and aberrant behavioral patterns. This study assesses road safety practices in relation to public transport driver behaviors in Addis Ababa using primary survey data (N=45) alongside 16-year historical crash trends (2002–2017). Statistical procedures—including K-Means Cluster Analysis, ANOVA, Pearson Correlation, and cross-tabulations—were executed via IBM SPSS Statistics. K-Means clustering established three distinct driver risk profiles: Young Novices (60.0%), Mid-Career Drivers (37.8%), and Senior Outliers (2.2%). Age (F=66.64, p<0.001) and driving experience (F=71.44, p<0.001) proved to be statistically significant predictors partitioning driver risk profiles. Younger drivers exhibited higher exposure to occupational fatigue (8+ driving hours daily), vehicle rental financial pressures, lower seatbelt compliance, and aggressive maneuvers.
VL  - 11
IS  - 5
ER  -

Copy | Download