APPLICATION OF SHORT PERIOD TRAFFIC COUNT TO ESTIMATE DAILY TRAFFIC FLOW IN AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA, NIGERIA.

Musa, I. J. * and Garba, I.

Traffic flow poses serious traffic management problems in many Nigerian urban centres and tertiary educational institutions in such cities may not be exempted. This is not quite different from the experience in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU). This paper attempts to estimate the traffic flow in ABU by: determining the number of vehicles in-bound traffic flow into ABU; explaining the factors responsible for variation in vehicular inflow per gates. The short period traffic counts method was employed to estimate vehicles; daily average vehicles density per/hour/day through the major gates was also determined through Mean while Chi- square was used to determine the total volume of traffic in- bound flow per gates, the highest entry gate and reasons for variation per gate. The results of daily counts revealed that in-bound flow through North gate is consistently higher. It was recommended that more traffic facilities; parking space, road shoulder, traffic signs should be put in place. It is also advised that the use of bicycles and trekking within campus should be encouraged, as these reduce traffic management problems and improve health of staff and students.

Key words: Short period Traffic, Daily, Flow, Ahmadu Bello University Gates, Zaria.