Risky riding behaviour among young, motorized two-wheeler riders in India: A quantitative analysis of the psychosocial determinants

Road crash injuries have emerged as a significant public health issue in many low-and middle-income countries in recent years. Annually, more than 1.35 million people lose their lives due to road crashes, making it one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In India, road crash injuries have increasingly become a major concern for motorized two-wheeler riders. It is important to understand risky riding behaviours to develop accurate and evidence-based risk reduction programmes that fit the target population well. The current study aimed to identify the psychosocial determinants of refraining from risky riding behaviour in young, motorized two-wheeler riders. A quantitative survey based on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) complemented with questions measuring routine behaviours was conducted among 238 young riders aged 18–25 riding motorized two-wheelers in Manipal, a locality of Udupi district in Karnataka province of Southwestern India. The study tool assessed four risky riding behaviours: (1) speeding, (2) helmet non-use, (3) performing stunts, and (4) using mobile phones while riding. The results of the study indicated that the intention to refrain from risky riding behaviours can be explained by important psychosocial determinants of human behaviour, including attitude, social norms, and perceived behavioural control and their underlying belief systems with regard to perceived benefits and costs, perceptions of other’s behaviours and approval, and expressions of personal control that inform these psychosocial determinants. In addition, the extent to which participants automatically behaved in risky riding practices in the past did not prove to be a strong predictor of future intentions to refrain from risky riding. It is concluded that the study resulted in an in-depth understanding of the psychosocial determinants of risky riding behaviour. Policymakers and programme developers are encouraged to use the findings in defining programme goals for future educational interventions to promote safe two-wheeler riding.