The effects of road safety education on the occurrence of motorcycle violations and accidents for novice riders: An analysis of population-based data

Understanding motorcycle crash involvement: Insights from regular motorcyclists and food delivery riders in Vietnam

Motorcycles have become a primary mode of transportation in many low- and middle-income countries, including Vietnam, where they are widely used for personal transport and commercial activities. The growing reliance on motorcycles, driven by rapid urbanization and the rise of app-based delivery platforms, has brought economic benefits but also significant public health concerns due to the high incidence of road traffic crashes. This study, based on a questionnaire survey targeting regular motorcyclists and food delivery riders in Vietnam, examines and compares the factors contributing to crash involvement between two groups, regular and delivery riders. Random parameters models with heterogeneity in means and variances were employed to capture variability in respondent behaviors. The results reveal that psychological factors, such as negative attitudes toward traffic rules and intentions to violate rules, significantly increase crash involvement for both regular and delivery riders, with the effect being more pronounced among delivery riders due to job pressures. Conversely, positive attitudes reduce crash involvement but are less effective for delivery riders due to high time pressures and frequent distractions. Perceived severity of crashes and the swiftness of sanctions also play critical roles: higher perceived severity promotes safer behavior, while the threat of sanctions deters risky actions for both groups. Rider attributes, such as age, education, and income, influence crash involvement, with younger and lower-educated riders facing higher risks among both groups due to inexperience and limited traffic knowledge, while income effects vary between regular and delivery riders. Travel characteristics, such as travel durations of more than two hours, increase crash involvement due to fatigue and exposure, particularly affecting delivery riders who navigate complex urban environments and face frequent distractions. The findings also highlight the importance of addressing heterogeneity in data analysis for more comprehensive insights. Moreover, based on these results, various policy implications are provided to reduce traffic crashes and enhance safety for motorcyclists in motorcycle-dominated countries.

Factors influencing injury severity in three-wheeled motorized rickshaw and motorcycle collisions

Crashes involving three-wheeler motorized rickshaws (3-WMR) and motorcycles are becoming a rising public health and socioeconomic problem in developing countries. While earlier studies have investigated safety-related issues for two, and four-wheelers, there exists a notable research gap to understanding the factors that contribute to the severity of injuries in involving 3-WMR collisions with motorcyclists. The current study aims to fill this gap by investigating the risk factors contributing to injury severity in such crashes, employing a random parameters multinomial logit model with heterogeneity in means and variance. The study conducted an empirical analysis using traffic crash data spanning three years (2019-2021) from RESCUE 1122 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The model outcomes demonstrate that major injuries (severe and fatal) in 3-WMR and motorcycle collisions are affected by numerous factors, including road features, driver characteristics, temporal factors and environmental factors. The study provides beneficial findings, emphasizing the significance of accounting for unobserved heterogeneity in the variables contributing to injury severity in 3-WMR and motorcycle collisions. Based on the findings of the study, policy recommendations are provided to help safety practitioners build more effective strategies to address the safety concerns regarding 3-WMR crashes with motorcycles in Pakistan and other regions with similar safety issues.

Young Motorcyclists' Behavior Analysis in Pakistan based on Modified Motorcycle Rider Behavior Questionnaire (MRBQ)

In many low- and middle-income countries, including Pakistan, young motorcyclists are overrepresented in crashes, primarily due to risky behaviors. To examine these behaviors, the Motorcycle Rider Behavior Questionnaire (MRBQ) has been modified for young motorcyclists in Pakistan to better capture the unique and culturally relevant behaviors affecting their safety. In addition, the study seeks to identify the factor structure of the MRBQ tailored for young motorcyclists in Pakistan, explore the determinants of self-reported incidents (i.e., crashes, near crashes, and violations), and provide effective policy recommendations to enhance road safety. For this purpose, data are collected from 721 young motorcyclists across Pakistan. In addition, exploratory factor analysis was conducted to determine the underlying factor structure of the adapted MRBQ, while a multivariate binary probit model was employed to assess the determinants of self-reported incidents. The findings reveal a five-factor solution comprising safety violations, speeding violations, traffic errors, stunts, and control errors, which differ from previous studies. Notably, "safety violations" emerge as the most significant factor, highlighting the prevalence of risky behaviors among young motorcyclists in Pakistan. In addition, the study indicates that young motorcyclists with lower levels of education, lack a valid riding license, or ride motorcycles with higher engine capacities and for longer durations are more likely to experience crashes, near crashes, and violations. The MRBQ factors, particularly safety violations, speeding violations, and traffic errors, substantially increase the risk of these incidents among young motorcyclists in Pakistan. These findings highlight the importance of addressing both sociodemographic and MRBQ factors in reducing risky riding behaviors among this vulnerable group. The study also offers several policy recommendations to promote safe behaviors and reduce the risk of crashes and injuries among young motorcyclists in Pakistan and other regions with similar contexts.

The impact of COVID-19 restrictions on motorcycle crashes in Taiwan

Taiwan is one of the countries with the highest motorcycle per capita globally, and motorcycle crashes are predominant among traffic crashes. This study examines the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 restrictions on motorcycle crashes. We analyzed the trend of motorcycle crashes in Taipei City from 2019 to 2020 using the dataset provided by the Department of Transportation, Taipei City Government, Taiwan. We found 47,108 and 51,441 motorcycle crashes in 2019 and 2020, involving 61,141 and 67,093 motorcycles, respectively. Mopeds had the highest risk in 2020, followed by heavy motorcycles [≥550 cubic capacity (cc)] and scooters compared to 2019. Food delivery motorcycle crashes increased for scooters (0.93% in 2019 to 3.45% in 2020, P < .0001) and heavy motorcycles (250 < cc < 550) (0.90% in 2019 to 3.38% in 2020, P < .0001). While fatalities remained under 1%, 30% to 51% of motorcyclists sustained injuries. Food delivery with scooters or heavy motorcycles (250 < cc < 550) was significantly associated with motorcyclist injuries and deaths. Compared with 2019, the adjusted odds ratios of motorcyclist injuries and deaths in 2020 were 1.43 (95% confidence interval = 1.05-1.94) for heavy motorcycles (≥550 cc) and 1.07 (95% confidence interval = 1.04-1.09) for scooters. This study shows that coronavirus disease 2019 restrictions was associated with elevated risks of crashes, injuries, and deaths among motorcyclists, reflecting the general preference for private transport over public transport. The popularity of food delivery services also contributed to increased motorcycle crashes.

Exploring the knowledge and practices on road safety measures among motorbikers in Dhaka, Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Road traffic injuries (RTIs), particularly motorbike injuries, are one of the leading causes of death worldwide and have been a serious concern in low- and middle-income countries like Bangladesh. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and practices on road safety measures among motorbikers in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2022 to December 2022 among 350 motorbikers of Dhaka city via a series of face-to-face interviews. Motorbikers who regularly ride a motorcycle were interviewed about their road safety knowledge and practices through a two-stage cluster sampling technique. Frequency distribution, independent sample t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were performed in data analysis.

RESULTS

Out of the 350 motorbikers, only 54.6% had good knowledge and 16.9% had poor knowledge on the signs and safety regulations of roads. Moreover, only 50.6% of respondents followed good practices while 23.4% followed poor practices of road safety measures. One-way ANOVA analysis demonstrates that the average knowledge score was significantly (p<0.05) higher among higher-educated, unmarried and non-smokers. Additionally, higher education level, non-smoking status and being Muslim were significantly (p<0.05) associated with good road safety practices.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall good knowledge level and practices of road safety measures among the motorbikers was not satisfactory although the majority of them knew individual signs and regulations. Therefore, this study suggests that education and strict enforcement of traffic rules may increase their knowledge and practice behaviour regarding road safety which in turn would minimise traffic injuries and fatalities.