GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS OF ROADSIDE FRICTIONAL POINTS IN KADUNA METROPOLIS, NIGERIA.

Muhammed, A.Y.*, Musa, I.J., Abdulkarim B. and Oluwole, M.S.

The door to door capacity of road transportation makes it the largest means for conveying goods and commuters. Available statistics showed that the total number of vehicular plate numbers produced in Kaduna State were 16,658 and 24,728 in 2013 and 2014 respectively, which is a high increase. The increase ownership of vehicles among other reasons leads to deterioration in capacity and inefficient performance of traffic systems. Expansion of road infrastructure is not always the solution although it will not absolutely be ruled out as the demand may be expected to continue to grow, the immediate, most relevant and acceptable strategy to mitigate capacity problems and increase efficiency of the road network is through traffic management applications. This study identified and analysed roadside frictional points in Kaduna metropolis with a view to predicting and characterizing the impact of roadside friction on vehicular speed and curtailing the poor performance of traffic systems. Stationary and mobile observation methods were applied to acquire data in addition to ulysse speedometer recorder and five factors of Pedestrians walk, Pedestrians cross, Non-Motorized Vehicle, Hawking and On-street parking were taken using Hierarchical Analytical Model as the main causes for roadside friction in the study area. Five roads were sampled for the identification, they were: Ahmadu Bello Way, Ali Akilu Road, Constitution Road, Independence Way and Nnamdi Azikwe Road. The results revealed high presence of the causes of roadside friction in some roads and lean on others. The result also revealed the reduction of about 11.67% of speed on constitution road, the lowest and 15.83% on Ali Akilu road and Ahmadu Bello road, the highest on operating speed. It was recommended among other recommendations that Kaduna State Traffic and Law Enforcement Agency (KADSTLEA) should rise up to enforce laws with regards to unlawful on-street parking, commercialization of roadside by hawkers and beggers in the study area.

Key words: Friction, Kaduna metropolis, Roadside, Traffic, Transportation.