The determinants of motorcyclists helmet use: Urban arterial road in Khon Kaen City, Thailand

• Published in: Journal of safety research 2018-12, Vol.67, p.93-97
• Main Authors: Kumphong, Jetsada, Satiennam, Thaned, Satiennam, Wichuda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Children; Fatalities; Helmet; Helmets; Logistic regression; Motorcycles; Motorcyclist; Passengers; Police; Protective equipment; Regression analysis; Safety management; Studies; Time of use; Toll roads; Traffic accidents & safety; Urban arterial road
• ISSN: 0022-4375; 1879-1247
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2018.09.011

Currently, Thailand incurs the highest death toll of motorcyclists in the world. The aim of this study was to explore the factors influencing helmet use of motorcyclists in Khon Kaen City, Thailand by using the Logistic regression analysis. The samples, consisting of 27,977 riders and 6,947 riding passengers, were collected by CCTV installed at several signalized intersections along urban arterial roads. The observation results reveal that only 67% of motorcyclists wore the helmets. The analysis results reveal that the helmet use of motorcyclists was significantly associated with the riding status, number of passengers, apparent age, motorcycle class, time of day, the presence of police booths at intersections and, especially, red light running behavior. The riders tended to wear helmets at 2.7 times higher rates than passengers. Adult motorcyclists tended to wear the helmets at 2.8 times higher rates than children. The motorcyclists riding the motorcycles over 125 cc tended to wear the helmets 1.9 times higher than those riding motorcycles under 125 cc. The motorcyclists riding in the morning and the afternoon tended to wear the helmets 5.0 and 3.8 times higher than in the evening. The motorcyclists riding through intersections with police booths tended to wear the helmets 2.2 times higher than those riding through intersection without police booths. However, the red light running riders intend to wear the helmets 0.6 times less than the legal riders. The outcome of this study could determine the factors influencing motorcyclist's helmet use. It will be useful for a development of 100% helmet use program designed to lessen the fatality of motorcyclists along the urban arterial roads.