Abstract:
Introduction
Motorcycle use in Tanzania is rapidly expanding, particularly in urban areas. Alongside this growth, motorcyclists now account for approximately 23% of road traffic fatalities nationally (WHO, 2018). While infrastructural and regulatory deficits contribute to crash rates, rider behaviour remains a central factor in crash causation and severity.
Purpose
This study aimed to examine behavioural risk factors among motorcycle riders in Arusha, Tanzania, using a standardised psychological tool. The goal was to assess self-reported risky behaviours and their association with crash involvement, thereby providing empirical evidence to inform future enforcement and educational interventions.
Method
The Motorcycle Rider Behaviour Questionnaire (MRBQ; Elliott et al., 2007) was adapted to the Tanzanian context. Thirty-five items from the original MRBQ were selected based on cultural relevance and translated into Swahili through a forward-backwards translation process involving native speakers. The online survey was administered between January and April 2023. A total of 233 riders participated (230 male, three female), with an average age of 25.2 years and a mean driving experience of 2.4 years. Participants reported riding on average 88.7 hours per week.
Results
Self-reported crash involvement was high: riders experienced an average of 1.3 crashes in the past 12 months. Older riders reported more crashes than younger ones. Among the MRBQ dimensions, traffic errors and speed violations showed the highest frequency. Notably, traffic errors were significantly correlated with self-reported crash frequency, suggesting a strong behavioural component to crash risk.
Conclusions
This study demonstrates that specific rider behaviours, particularly errors in traffic judgment and speeding, are associated with increased crash involvement in urban Tanzania. The findings support the integration of behavioural assessment tools, such as the MRBQ, into national road safety monitoring systems and point to the urgent need for targeted behavioural interventions for high-exposure groups, including young male riders.