Motorcycle helmet attitudes, behaviours and beliefs among Cambodians
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
6-1-2013
Journal
International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion
Volume
20
Issue
2
DOI
10.1080/17457300.2012.759594
Keywords
Cambodia; helmet; motorcycle; road safety
Abstract
Motorcycle fatalities are increasing at an alarming rate in many South-East Asian countries, including Cambodia. Through brief face-to-face roadside interviews in Phnom Penh and four other Cambodian provinces, this article assesses Cambodian motorcyclists' attitudes, behaviours and beliefs related to motorcycle helmets. Out of 1016 motorcyclists interviewed, 50% were drivers, 40% were older passengers and 10% were child passengers. More drivers (50%) reported consistently wearing helmets, compared with older passengers (14%). Saving their life in the event of a crash was the impetus for drivers and older passengers to wear a helmet (96% and 98%, respectively). The top barriers to helmet use were: (1) 'depends on where I drive,' (2) 'I forget' and (3) 'inconvenient' or 'uncomfortable'. These descriptive findings were instrumental in shaping the Cambodian Helmet Vaccine Initiative passenger campaign to reduce the motorcycle-related injuries and fatalities to support the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
APA Citation
Roehler, D., Sann, S., Kim, P., Bachani, A., Campostrini, S., Florian, M., Sidik, M., Blanchard, C., Sleet, D., Hyder, A., & Ballesteros, M. (2013). Motorcycle helmet attitudes, behaviours and beliefs among Cambodians. International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion, 20 (2). http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17457300.2012.759594