The study focuses on evaluating the safety awareness of roadside traders along the major axis of Osogbo, Osun state, Nigeria. The objectives include to identify the location where street traders operate, assess their socio-economic characteristics, identify the risks involved and determine the traders' awareness of the risks involved in their activity. A total of 278 roadside traders were selected from six clusters on the basis of streets using stratified random sampling techniques. Findings reveal that road-side trading within the CBD of Osogbo was influenced by low level of education, poverty, need for survival and by high rent value within the CBD among other factors. The study reveals a significantly high level of awareness of the risks involved such as exposure to high concentration of pollutants, exposure to hot sun and inclement weather and being hit by vehicles among others. It is recommended that a comprehensive planned alternative retail location with high connectivity and visibility be put in place, and the protection of the traders in the form government sponsored safety regulations for their operations as well as the enforcement of the existing traffic safety measures.

The growth and progress of a society is determined and measured to a large extent by the socio-economic development of the city. This is largely dependent on the transportation system of the area. Transportation promotes development in any area and when transportation is hindered, development is also retarded. In Nigeria, and Osogbo, Osun State Capital in particular, the only available mode of transportation is road transport. It provides the linkages between spatially separated facilities, enable social contact, and access to employments. Road infrastructure is a critical ingredient of economic development in the study area. The demands for road transport infrastructure in Nigeria over the years have increased tremendously, while the supplies of road transport services have declined grossly. There is a miss-merge between the demand and supply of road infrastructure in the study area. The study therefore, assessed the availability and adequacy of road transport infrastructure in Osogbo. The study was carried out through personal observation and direct measurement of the available road infrastructure in the study area. The study surveyed 101 kilometres of roads, of which about 77% of the roads are characterized with potholes and about 88% of the roads are without walkways which does not make it safe for pedestrians and about 92% of the roads are without road signs. The study is concluded by suggesting the need for government and public participation in the provision and maintenance of road transport infrastructure in the study area to enhance effective and efficient movement of goods, services and people in the study area.

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Road traffic accident (RTA) is a growing critical issue globally, resulting in high casualties and fatalities, especially in developing countries. This study examines the magnitude and trend of RTA and the effectiveness of road traffic safety measures in Osun State, South West Nigeria. Data on road traffic accidents from 1992 to 2016 was obtained from Nigeria's Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) coupled with primary data acquired from 2,209 sampled households in six hierarchically selected cities through a multi-stage stratified random procedure. The study reveals a very high positive correlation (r = 0.97; p = 0.001) between road traffic accidents and the size of the cities. Trend analysis shows a gradual decline in accident and mortality rates but increasing injury rates. The study observed a relatively higher male involvement than females in RTA at the ratio of 3:1 and a relatively higher occurrence among civil servants (38.2%) and traders (27.6%) than other occupational groups. The study concludes that the incidence of road traffic accidents varies spatially, temporally, across gender and occupational divide and that safety measures employed do not have a significant impact in preventing its occurrence in the study area. It is recommended that safety culture should be encouraged among road users apart from strengthening the institutional framework responsible for transport safety.

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