Factors Predicting Safe Motorcyclist Riding Behaviors among Thai Undergraduates

Background Despite the nationwide enforcement strategies in place to prevent road accidents, including wearing a helmet, not riding a motorcycle while drunk, using a safe motorcycle, obtaining a motorcycle license and avoiding speeding, accidents still occur, particularly among young motorcyclists. Objectives The study aimed to describe the level of behaviors and factors affecting safe motorcyclists' riding behaviors. Methods The cross-sectional study with single-stage cluster sampling was conducted to select 326 students in years 1–4 of the 1st semester of every faculty at Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya Rajabhat University. Data were collected using online self-administered questionnaires from December 2022 to January 2023. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including the Chi-square test, Pearson correlation coefficient and Stepwise multiple regression analysis, were used to analyze the data. Results Most respondents had safe motorcyclist riding behaviors at a safe level (54.6%), good knowledge-related traffic rules (41.1%), a positive attitude towards behaviors (67.8%) and a high level of support from influencing groups as subjective norms on behaviors including family members (69.6%), friends (58.3%) and favorite celebrities who participated in a road safety campaign (48.4%). Most had high perceived behavioral control (53.1%) and behavioral intention (64.7%). Eight factors were significantly associated with safe motorcyclist riding behaviors: student’s year, having a motorcycle driving license, driving a motorcycle after alcohol drinking, attitude towards behaviors, subjective norms concerning behaviors, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intention. Based on the results, four factors could significantly predict safe motorcyclist riding behaviors up to 45.6% (Nagelkerke R2 = 0.456, p <0.001) composed of perceived behavioral control, having a motorcycle driving license, behavioral intention and subjective norm influenced by friends. Conclusion The study could provide valuable input for institutional administrators and related organizations to formulate policies promoting safe riding behaviors among motorcyclist students. Additionally, these results may be beneficial in organizing awareness-raising campaigns to prevent motorcycle-related accidents and monitor the process of acquiring a motorcycle driving license.