Passengers' self-protective intentions while using ride-hailing services during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Published in: Safety science 2023-01, Vol.157, p.105920-105920, Article 105920
• Main Authors: Quy Nguyen-Phuoc, Duy, Ngoc Su, Diep, Thanh Tran Dinh, My, David Albert Newton, James, Oviedo-Trespalacios, Oscar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Human factors; Perceived risk; Public transport; Ride-hailing; Safety science; Self-efficacy; Subject knowledge
• ISSN: 0925-7535; 1879-1042; 0925-7535
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2022.105920

•Ride-hailing services are a key mobility service in countries where public transport is underdeveloped.•This study examines determinants associated with passengers’ self-protective intentions during the COVID-19 pandemic.•The proposed conceptual model was tested on a large sample of ride-hailing users in Vietnam.•The findings show that self-efficacy has the strongest impact on self-protective behaviours. In the transport context, there has been limited research examining passengers' health-protective behaviour while travelling during a health-related crisis such as COVID-19. This study develops a conceptual model aiming to explore determinants associated with passengers' self-protective intentions using the context of ride-hailing services in Vietnam. Ride-hailing services are popular in countries where public transport is underdeveloped. The conceptual model is based on perceived risk and self-efficacy as the main predictor of self-protective intentions when using ride-hailing services. In addition, the proposed conceptual model explores the direct and indirect impact of subjective knowledge and the perceived effectiveness of preventive measures on self-protective intentions. The proposed conceptual model was tested on a large sample of ride-hailing users in Vietnam (n = 527). The structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis results indicate that self-efficacy has the highest total impact on self-protective behaviour, followed by subject knowledge and perceived effectiveness of preventive measures. Self-efficacy also plays a fully mediating role in the linkage between the perceived effectiveness of preventive measures implemented by ride-hailing organisations and the intention to engage in self-protective behaviour. The results of this study expand the current understanding of ride-hailing passengers' health-protective behaviour and contribute to the transport and public health literature.