The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new risks and stress for paid transport users worldwide. COVID-19 has changed mobility dynamics worldwide, including low- and middle-income countries (e.g., Vietnam). The present study aims to provide an in-depth understanding of ride-sourcing passengers' behavioural intentions when COVID-19 pandemic management successfully prevented community transmission by extending the TPB with two constructs: perceived virus infection risk and problem-focused coping. Using self-administered questionnaires, data were collected from ride-sourcing customers in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam). A total of 540 responses were used for validating the proposed theorethical model. The structural equation model results indicate that problem-focused coping is a multi-faceted construct with two dimensions: problem-solving and self-protection. Also, problem-focused coping has the highest total effect on the intention to use ride-sourcing services following a period of COVID-19 suppression (3 months without identified cases). The findings also reveal that attitude partially mediates the link between problem-focused coping and behavioural intention. The results of this study could be used to develop strategies to promote ride-sourcing services in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.@en

Turn signal neglect is considered to be a key contributor to crashes at intersections, yet relatively little research has been undertaken on this topic, particularly in developing countries. Using a case study of Vietnam, this research aimed to explore the role of environmental characteristics, perceived risk, beliefs and lifestyle behaviours on the frequency of turn signal use at intersections. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to motorcyclists (n = 527) and car drivers (n = 326) using online and offline methods. Using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), key findings indicate that perceived risk, beliefs and environmental characteristics play a significant role in affecting the frequency of turn signal use among motorcycle riders and car drivers at intersections. While lifestyle behaviours were not found to be a good predictor of turn signal use among car drivers, they were found to indirectly affect turn signal use among motorcycle riders through the mediation of beliefs and perceived risk. The findings can help inform the development of more targeted measures to increase turn signal use.@en

Mobile phone use while driving presents significant risks, potentially leading to injury or death through distracted driving. Using a case study of Vietnam, this research aimed to understand the effect of problematic mobile phone use (also known as mobile phone addiction or compulsive mobile phone use), attitudes and beliefs, and perceived risk on the frequency of mobile phone use among motorcyclists and car drivers. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to motorcyclists (n1= 529) and car drivers (n2= 328) using an online survey and face-to-face survey. The survey took around 20-min to complete and participants were entered into a lottery for supermarket vouchers. Of the motorcyclists, 42% of the sample (the highest proportion) was in the 18-25 age group while the 36-45 age group accounted for the highest proportion among car drivers (34.8%). Using structural equation modelling (SEM), key findings showed that each construct influenced mobile phone use, but in different ways for motorcycle riders and car drivers. Attitudes and beliefs had the largest effect on mobile phone use while riding among motorcyclists, with problematic mobile phone use having the smallest influence. In contrast, problematic mobile phone use had the largest effect on mobile phone use while driving a car, with attitudes and beliefs having the smallest effect. The findings of this study point to the need for tailored interventions involving a range of actors (policymakers, police enforcement, mental health professionals, advocacy groups and the wider community) to raise awareness, modify attitudes and increase risk perception associated with mobile phone use while driving/riding. This can be achieved thorough educational tools and road safety campaigns which are focused on reducing this risky driving behaviour. This includes customising road safety programs for individuals and groups affected by problematic mobile phone use such as targeted advertising.@en

Background: Taxi services have played an essential role in the transport system as they contribute to urban mobility. With the rapid development of information and communication technologies, ride-hailing services, one of the typical sharing economy forms of road transport, have become increasingly popular. The uptake of app-based technologies that support the sharing economy for transport is considered to threaten the future of traditional taxi services directly. Aim: This study aims to compare the direct and indirect effects of factors such as perceived benefits of booking method, perceived safety, involvement and satisfaction on the loyalty of passengers to ride-hailing and traditional taxi services. Method: A structural equation model of the relationships among these constructs was tested using data collected from 545 respondents (263 ride-hailing passengers and 282 traditional taxi passengers) who have used these services at least once a month in Vietnam. Results: The results have confirmed that there was a strong relationship between satisfaction and loyalty for ride-hailing as well as traditional taxi services. It was also evident that the variable describing the perceived benefits of booking method was the second strongest factor influencing traditional taxi passengers’ loyalty while the perception of safety was the second most important determinant of ride-hailing passengers’ loyalty. Conclusions: Results from this investigation offer insights for the development of strategies aiming at increasing the loyalty of ride-hailing as well as traditional taxi users. By focusing on the strengths and improving the weaknesses of each transport service, these two services can be complementary and co-existing without cannibalising each other. In turn this will lead to a transport system capable to serve all types of users.@en

Transport sustainability has become a major challenge worldwide. On-demand shared ride-hailing (OSR) is an alternative transport mode to private motorized mobility which allows passengers to share a vehicle and driver to their respective destination. OSR is more flexible than buses and cheaper than taxis. Additionally, ride-hailing services such as OSR play an important role in servicing communities with poor access to public transport (e.g., buses or trains) and people with increased vulnerabilities (e.g., women with children or people with disabilities). The present study investigates the impact of psychological factors on passengers' intention to use OSR services. To achieve this, the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) was used and extended with perceived risk, price sensitivity, and perceived green value. Data were collected from 520 ride-hailing passengers in Vietnam. The results confirm the relevance of the original TPB constructs, i.e., attitudes, perceived behavioural control, and social norms. Concerning the three additional constructs, only perceived risk negatively and directly influences usage intention, while the two other constructs (i.e., price sensitivity and perceived green value) influence the intention to use OSR via attitudes. The results also reveal that the impact of perceived green value on usage intention is higher among females than males. Additionally, among middle- and high-income people, there is a significant negative association between perceived risk and intention, while this association is not significant among low-income participants. The findings from the present paper provide evidence of the importance of psychosocial factors such as perceptions of risk, price sensitivity, and sustainability when considering intention to use on-demand shared transport services.@en

Ride-hailing services are increasingly consolidating their role in the transport sector in low- and middle-income countries where there is limited investment in public transport. However, much is unknown about the determinants of ride-hailing service use and quality of the service. The present study investigates the direct and indirect influences of perceived quality of ride-hailing service including perceived booking app and perceived post-booking service quality on continuous usage intention and word-of-mouth (WOM) of ride-hailing passengers. Emerging research has aimed to understand the hierarchical structure of ride-hailing service quality (including booking app and post-booking service). Therefore, this study proposes a formative hierarchical component model of perceived booking app quality consisting of seven dimensions (i.e., privacy and security, ease of use, functionality, design, information accuracy, route detection, and service). Likewise, the perceived post-booking service quality is comprised of four dimensions (i.e., reliability, personal, convenience, and tangibility). Data used for testing the model was collected from 536 ride-hailing service users in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam. The results provide insights into attributes forming perceived quality of ride-hailing booking apps and perceived post-booking service quality and how these constructs affect passenger loyalty. The results are also useful for ride-hailing companies in their efforts to prioritise critical service attributes and ensure their service quality meets or exceeds passengers’ expectations.@en

Introduction: In developing countries, traditional motorcycle taxis are operated as a type of public transport mode. Recently, the development of mobile technology has enabled this transport mode to become an app-based motorcycle taxi service, leading to a rapid increase in travel demand. However, the emergence of app-based motorcycle taxi riders is considered to contribute directly and indirectly to the high proportion of road traffic crashes through their risky riding behaviours. The associations between unhealthy habits such as smoking, drink riding and other risky behaviours among motorcyclists have received less attention. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the effect of unhealthy lifestyle behaviours on risky riding behaviours among app-based motorcycle taxi riders. This study also explores the prevalence of risky riding behaviours and their associations. Methods: An online survey and field surveys were carried out to obtain information about app-based motorcycle taxi riders’ demographics, work patterns and risky riding behaviours. More than 600 riders (mean age = 25.74 years, SD = 7.3), who were working in the three largest cities in Vietnam, completed a structured questionnaire. Results: Binary logistic regression modelling showed that riders who regularly smoked and drunk alcohol were more likely to engage in the risky behaviours of smoking while riding and drink riding (Adj. OR = 18.61, 95%CI, p < 0.001 and Adj. OR = 9.02, 95%CI, p < 0.01 respectively). The results also indicated that those who sometimes smoked cigarettes were more likely not to wear helmets when riding (Adj. OR = 2.55, p < 0.01). While smoking habits were associated with smoking while riding and not wearing a helmet, most surveyed risky riding behaviours were associated with drinking habits. Significant associations between smoke/drink riding and all other risky riding behaviours were also found in this study. Conclusion: A better understanding of these relationships will help authorities and ride-hailing firms to improve safe riding behaviours among app-based motorcycle taxi riders.@en

Road traffic crashes and injuries are a major societal challenge around the world. However, the majority of injuries and fatalities occur disproportionately in low-income and medium-income countries. Previous studies have concluded that risky behaviours were the main contributing factor of traffic crashes. Turn signal neglect (TSN) when making a turn is one of those risky behaviours. Unfortunately, research on TSN has been very limited. This study investigates the prevalence of TSN-related crashes and factors affecting TSN among motorcyclists and car drivers. Data was obtained from self-administered questionnaires conducted in Vietnam. The findings showed that 17.54% of motorcyclists and 14.76% of car drivers have experienced at least one crash caused by their failure to turn signals in the last three years. Additionally, fewer years having a riding/driving license, longer daily travelling time, lower frequency of turn signal use, and having received a fine due to TSN were found to be positively associated with TSN-related crashes for both motorcyclists and car drivers. The findings highlight the importance of TSN for road safety and the need for authorities to develop more effective educational strategies and to increase traffic law enforcement.@en