Geospatial Analysis of Road Traffic Accidents and Emergency Response Optimization in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria

BackgroundIncrease in occurrence of road traffic accidents in Kano metropolis have resulted into continuous loss of lives, injuries and increased people’s exposure to risk. This study examined road traffic accidents emergency response within Kano metropolis with a view to enhancing its efficiency through establishing communication and synergy between Emergency Healthcare Facilities (EHCF), ambulances and accident hotspots. MethodsGPS surveying was conducted to obtain the location and attributes of the major EHCF, accident hotspots along the junctions of the highways and the 2 existing ambulances at Kano State Fire Service and Federal Road Safety Corp head offices (KSFS and FRSC). Road traffic data (vector format) was digitized from Worldview 3 satellite image (2018, 30cm spatial resolution) from which two major road classes were identified (highways and minor roads) along with their speed limits of 50km/hr and 30km/hr respectively. Time distances were determined based on length and speed limits. Nearest Neighbor and Network analysis (closest facility, shortest route and location-allocation) analyses were conducted. ResultsThe result revealed a variation in the distribution patterns of EHCH, ambulances and accident spots. Closest ambulance facility analysis shows that it takes the FRSC ambulance about 9.41 minutes to reach to accident spot 18 (Maiduguri Road, after NNPC), and 7.52 minutes to travel to AKTH as the closest EHCF. On the other hand, it takes the same ambulance about 3 times the time taken to spot 18 and 4 times the time taken to AKTH to reach to Court road incident spot (spot 16) and IRPH as the closest EHCF. This signifies greater chances of death of almost all victims across the metropolis due to inability to provide CPS within the first 4 minutes before reaching to the hospital. However, in case of Pediatric emergencies, the analysis of closest EHCF from accident spots revealed that it takes less than one minute to travel from accident spots 13, 14 and 15 to IRPH as the closest Pediatric EHCF. Equally, similar time is taken to travel from incident spots 20 and 23 to Sir Sunusi and MMS hospitals respectively. Location-allocation analysis identified eight new locations based on maximum of 4 minutes impedance cutoff from all directions towards the incidents spots. ConclusionIt is concluded that the prevailing road traffic accident emergency response system within the metropolis is inefficient. Therefore, more ambulances should be strategically positioned to fasten emergency response.