Risky motorcycle riding behaviour among young riders in Manipal, India

Sumit, Kumar; Ross, Veerle; Brijs, Kris; Wets, Geert; Ruiter, Robert A. C. · 2021 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11899-y

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Summary

This study investigates risky motorcycle riding behaviors among young riders in Manipal, India, aiming to validate the factor structure of a modified Motorcycle Rider Behaviour Questionnaire (MRBQ) and assess its association with self-reported crash involvement and traffic violations. The research is motivated by the high vulnerability of motorcyclists in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in India where two-wheelers comprise 70% of the vehicle population and young adults (18–25 years) represent a significant proportion of crash victims. Understanding these behavioral factors is critical for developing evidence-based traffic safety interventions. The researchers employed a cross-sectional survey design involving 300 young motorcycle riders (aged 18–25) in Manipal, recruited via convenience sampling from colleges and transport offices. Participants were predominantly male (93%) and students (92.3%), with at least three years of riding experience. The study utilized a modified MRBQ, which included the original 43 items assessing violations, control errors, traffic errors, stunts, and protective equipment, plus additional items on helmet use and mobile phone usage adapted for the Indian context. Data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis to determine the questionnaire’s structure, followed by univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression to examine associations between MRBQ factors and outcomes such as severe crashes, near-crashes, and fines. The factor analysis confirmed a five-factor structure consistent with previous international studies: traffic errors, control errors, protective equipment, stunts, and violations, with Cronbach’s alpha values ranging from 0.66 to 0.82. Regarding crash outcomes, no significant associations were found between MRBQ factors and severe crash involvement, except for a significant negative association between the use of protective equipment and severe crashes. However, reports of performing stunts and committing violations were positively associated with self-reported near-crash experiences over the past three months. Additionally, riders who reported stunts, violations, or rode motorcycles with engine capacities of 125–200 cc were significantly more likely to have received traffic fines. The study concludes that while the modified MRBQ maintains a robust factor structure applicable to the Indian context, the link between specific behavioral factors and severe crashes was less pronounced than in previous studies, though stunts and violations strongly predicted near-crashes. The findings suggest that local policymakers should focus on these five behavioral domains, particularly stunt-taking and violations, when designing interventions to reduce road crashes among young motorcyclists. The results highlight the importance of context-specific validation of behavioral tools in low- and middle-income countries to effectively target risky riding behaviors.

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Topics

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• motorcyclist skill
• motorcycle crash typology
• sex gender