BURNOUT OF TRAFFIC MANAGERS AND ITS EFFECT ON ROAD SAFETY: EVIDENCE FROM LAGOS STATE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY, LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Chronic work place stress which is caused by the burnout syndrome, has become one of the most psychological occupational hazard affecting traffic managers in a highly populated city like Lagos state. The study examined Burnout of traffic managers and its effect on road safety. The study adapted the descriptive survey research design, convenient sampling technique was used to sleeted fifty respondents for the study Google form questionnaire were sent to fifty traffic managers in strategic location in Lagos State. Three hypotheses were tested using Pearson product moment correlation and multiple regression using S.P.S.S 27.0 version. The findings revealed that there is a 50-2% moderate relationship between exhaustion and road safety, and 68.4% strong relationship between mental distance and road safety. The findings further reveled that exhaustion and mental distance account for 47.3% of road safety which is the combined effect of the indicators of burnout on road safety. The study concluded that increased mental distance of traffic managers caused by energy depletion, exhaustion and distraction is having a negative effect on safety of lifes and properties on Lagos roads. However the study recommended among others that the traffic management authority should adopt flexible work practices and work life balance options such as self roistering (exchange shifts, shift picking) also they should organize regular fitness exercise, medical and psychological check up for their staffs to ensure they are fit and healthy for the job.   Keyboards: Burnout, Road Safety, Exhaustion, Mental distance, Traffic Managers.