Knowledge, attitudes, and risk behaviors in motorcycle riding among university students : A case study of a university in Phitsanulok Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research were 1) To study the knowledge of motorcycle traffic law compliance among university students at a university in Phitsanulok Province 2) To examine the attitudes toward lawful motorcycle riding among the students 3) To investigate the risk behaviors related to non-compliance with traffic laws among the students and 4) To study the relationships among knowledge, attitudes, and risky behaviors in motorcycle riding without traffic law compliance. The sample group consisted of 392 undergraduate students aged between 20 and 24 years from a university in Phitsanulok Province. The sample was selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The results revealed that the students’ knowledge about always wearing helmets while riding motorcycles was at the highest level (= 18.70). Their attitude toward the belief that riding a motorcycle under the influence of alcohol increases the risk of accidents was at a high level (= 3.89). However, their risky behavior of riding a motorcycle without wearing a helmet was also at a high level (= 3.55). The analysis of relationships showed that knowledge was not significantly correlated with risky behaviors, whereas attitude was found to have a statistically significant relationship with risky motorcycle riding behaviors at the 0.01 level (r = 0.273).