The Impact of the Absence of Organized Rest and Service Areas (RSA) on Highway Safety and Mobility in Nigeria: A Review

Rest and Service Areas (RSAs) are a critical component of modern highway systems, designed to mitigate driver fatigue, provide emergency support, and enhance both traffic flow and logistics efficiency. In Nigeria, where road transport dominates passenger and freight movements, the systematic development of RSAs remains extremely limited. Consequently, motorists and freight operators depend on informal roadside stops that often lack safety, sanitation, and parking infrastructure, thereby increasing vulnerability to fatigue related crashes and operational inefficiencies. This study examines the implications of the absence of organized RSAs on Nigeria’s major transport corridors through an integrative literature review supported by empirical analysis of highway operations. It synthesizes global best practices on RSA typology, spacing, and facility standards, and adapts these to Nigeria’s 80-100 km/h design speed corridors. Findings reveal that the scarcity of formal RSAs contributes to elevated fatigue risk, unsafe stopping behaviour, and diminished emergency response capacity. The paper proposes a context specific RSA classification system and design standards encompassing functional typologies, geometric criteria, and minimum service requirements. It further outlines actionable policy instruments such as Public-Private-Partnerships (PPP), regulatory integration within national road safety strategies, and spatial demand modelling to guide nationwide RSA implementation. If adopted, these measures are projected to significantly reduce fatigue related collisions, improve corridor reliability, and generate local socioeconomic and environmental benefits, thereby aligning Nigeria’s highway network with global standards of safe and sustainable mobility.

Driver Fatigue; Highway Safety; Mobility; Nigeria

1. Afolayan, A., Easa, S. M., Abiola, O. S., Alayaki, F. M., and Folorunso, O. (2022). GISBased Spatial Analysis of Accident Hotspots: A Nigerian Case Study. Infrastructures, 7(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures7080103 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Alkhatni, F., Ishak, S. Z., and Milad, A. (2021). Characteristics and Potential Impacts of Rest Areas Proximate to Roadways: A Review. The Open Transportation Journal, 15(1), 260–271. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874447802115010260 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Armstrong, Aboah; Blessing, Agyei Kyem; E;ugene, Kofi Okrah Denteh; Joshua, Kofi Asamoah; Kenneth, A. T. (2024). Advancing Pavement Distress Detection in Developing Countries: A Novel Deep Learning Approach with LocallyCollected Datasets. Αγαη, 15(1), 37–48. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Ayeni, T. S., and Iyeke, S. (2024). Evaluation of Capacity and Level of Service for Urban Arterial Road Under Mixed Traffic Conditions A Case Study of Oba Adesida Road Akure , Nigeria. Journal of Civil Engineering, Science and Technology, 15(2), 152–165. https://doi.org/10.33736/jcest.6412.2024 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Bertulienė, L., and JuknevičiūtėŽilinskienė, L. (2014). Roadside infrastructure and rest areas concepts in Lithuania. 9th International Conference on Environmental Engineering, ICEE 2014, (September), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.3846/enviro.2014.145 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Budzyński, A., & Cieśla, M. (2025). Highway Rest Area Truck Parking Occupancy Prediction Using Machine Learning: A Case Study from Poland. Infrastructures, 10(7), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures10070151 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Bunn, T. L., Slavova, S., & Rock, P. J. (2019). Association between commercial vehicle driver atfault crashes involving sleepiness/fatigue and proximity to rest areas and truck stops. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 126(November 2017), 3–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2017.11.022 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Chen, G. X., Sieber, W. K., Collins, J. W., Hitchcock, E. M., Lincoln, J. E., Pratt, S. G., & Sweeney, M. H. (2021). Truck driver reported unrealistically tight delivery schedules linked to their opinions of maximum speed limits and hoursofservice rules and their compliance with these safety laws and regulations. Safety Science, 133(March 2020), 105003. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2020.105003 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Crizzle, A. M., Toxopeus, R., & Malkin, J. (2020). Impact of limited rest areas on truck driver crashes in Saskatchewan: A mixedmethods approach. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889020091207 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Dennis, B. (2019). Locational Factors for Transit Service Centers on National Highways: A Case Study of Mtito Andei, Makueni County (Issue March). https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.28341.42723 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Elijah, Y. I., and Rabi Menmak, N. (2021). The Nigeria’s Road Network: The HorrorHighway of Death. Asian Journal of Advanced Research and Reports, 15(11), 29–42. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajarr/2021/v15i1130436 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. FTI Consulting. (2024). Paving the Future: How Road Corridors Can Drive Economic and Urban Growth Road. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Guo, Y., Zhou, J., Dong, Q., Li, B., Xiao, J., and Li, Z. (2025). Refined highdefinition map model for roadside rest area. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 195(March), 104463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2025.104463 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Hopia, H., Adjunct, E. L., & Expert, S. (2016). Reviewing the methodology of an integrative review. Caring Science, 4, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.12327 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Jung, S., Joo, S., and Oh, C. (2017). Evaluating the effects of supplemental rest areas on freeway crashes caused by drowsy driving. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 99, 356–363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2016.12.021 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Kikanme, E. I., Obiadi, B. N., Enete, I. C., & Kikanme, S. C. (2024). Rest Stop Realities : Analysing Design, Typology And Driver’s Perceptions of Rest Stops Amidst Nigeria’s Poor Road Management. IIARD International Journal of Geography & Environmental Management (IJGEM), 10(6), 44–69. https://doi.org/10.56201/ijgem.v10.no6.2024.pg44.69 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Kolodinskaja, J., and Bertulienė, L. (2020). Layout of rest areas and their infrastructure development in the southeastern region of Lithuania. Baltic Journal of Road and Bridge Engineering, 15(3), 130–145. https://doi.org/10.7250/bjrbe.202015.488 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Link, S., & Plötz, P. (2024). Geospatial truck parking locations data for Europe. Data in Brief, 54, 110277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2024.110277 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Lise, F., Garcia, F. L., Shattell, M., & Kincl, L. (2025). Occupational Health Risks at Truck Stops: Evaluating Service Gaps and Safety Needs for LongHaul Drivers. Safety, 11(3), 9–11. https://doi.org/10.3390/safety11030087 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Monh, N., Ahmad, F., Aminudin, E., Vighio, A. A., and Awang, M. B. (2025). Lighting Configuration for Improving Lighting Energy Efficiency of Rest and Service Area in Malaysia (Vol. 35). https://doi.org/10.59440/ceer/202380 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Obiadi, B., Mbadugha, L. C., and Aniegbuna, A. (2024). Nigerians and their Adaptation to their Deadly Road Conditions : The Case of FatigueRelated Road Accidents. International Journal of Engineering and Modern Technology (IJEMT), 10(7), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.56201/ijemt.v10.no7.2024.pg1.28 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Parbowo, P., Suwaryo, U., Mulyawan, R., Yuningsih, N. Y., Kusnianti, N., and Cahyadi, U. (2023). Evaluation of Government Policies Through Development of Sustainable Apj Rest Area Technology to Improve SocioEconomic Development of Local Communities Around Toll Road Locations in Indonesia. Atlantis Press SARL. https://doi.org/10.2991/9782384761944_26 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. PérezAcebo, H., and RomoMartín, A. (2019). Service and rest areas in toll motorways in Poland: Study of distribution and facilities. Transport Problems, 14(2), 155–164. https://doi.org/10.20858/tp.2019.14.2.14 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. PérezAcebo, H., RomoMartín, A., and Findley, D. J. (2022). Spatial distribution and the facility evaluation of the service and rest areas in the toll motorway network of the European Union. Applied Spatial Analysis and Policy, 15(3), 821–845. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12061021094213 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Ramli, I., Hassan, S. A., and Hainin, M. R. (2018). Parking Demand Analysis of Rest and Service Area Along Expressway in Southern Region, Johor Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Civil Engineering, 29(1), 118–128. https://doi.org/10.11113/mjce.v29.15687 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. RomoMartín, A., and PérezAcebo, H. (2018). Analysis of the Location of Service and Rest Areas and their facilities in Spanish paying motorways. Transportation Research Procedia, 33, 4–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2018.10.069 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Ronen, A., OronGilad, T., & Gershon, P. (2014). The combination of short rest and energy drink consumption as fatigue countermeasures during a prolonged drive of professional truck drivers. Journal of Safety Research, 49(February), 39–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2014.02.006 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Russell, C. L. (2015). An overview of the integrative research review. Progress in Transplantation, 15(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.7182/prtr.15.1.0n13660r26g725kj [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Shrestha, K. (2023). Cost Comparison of Highway Rest Area Operations: InHouse Workforce versus Outsourcing Methods. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 149(8), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1061/jcemd4.coeng13214 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 104(July), 333–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Torraco, R. J. (2005). Writing integrative literature reviews: Guidelines and examples. Human Resource Development Review, 4(3), 356–367. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534484305278283 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Yero, A. S., Ahmed, T. Y., and Hainin, M. R. (2015). Evaluation Of Major Causes Of Road Accidents Along North – East Highway, Nigeria, 4, 39–43. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Yunusa, M. B. (2015). Physical planning and the development of Dankande Rest Stop Area in Kaduna, Nigeria. City, Culture and Society, 6(1), 53–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccs.2015.01.002. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• An Adaptive Joint Filtering Approach to Wireless Relay Network for Transmission Rate Maximization
• IoT-Integrated Mercury Substance Detection System for Cosmetic Product Safety
• Design and Implementation of Solar PV-Based Railway Microgrid for Linke Hofmann Busch Coaches
• Cost Control Techniques on Civil Engineering Projects in Oyo State, Nigeria
• Strength and Predictive Modeling of Corn Cob Ash Blended Concrete Using Multi-Output Artificial Neural Network Approach