Habit over Enforcement: What Really Predicts Motorcycle Helmet Use in a Malaysian Community

Road traffic injuries remain one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, and motorcyclists continue to be disproportionately represented among fatalities, particularly in upper-middle-income countries such as Malaysia. Although the wearing of a standard safety helmet is legally mandated and is well established as one of the most effective interventions for reducing head injury and mortality in a crash, compliance in many residential communities remains inconsistent. This study examined the relationship between knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) towards motorcycle helmet usage among riders residing in a low-cost housing area in Bukit Tinggi, Klang, Selangor. A quantitative, cross-sectional research design was employed, using a structured questionnaire adapted from an instrument previously used by Malaysia's Road Transport Department. Data were collected from 276 motorcyclist respondents selected through simple random sampling and were analysed descriptively and through Pearson correlation using SPSS. The findings show that riders possess a high level of knowledge of helmet-related legislation and safety benefits (94.2% correctly identified helmet use as a legal requirement) and hold predominantly positive attitudes towards helmet use, with compliance driven more by personal safety awareness than by fear of enforcement. All three KAP constructs were significantly and positively correlated with helmet usage, with practice showing the strongest association (r = .815, p < .01), followed by knowledge (r = .642, p < .01) and attitude (r = .493, p < .01); enforcement barriers showed the weakest association (r = .313, p < .01). These results suggest that internal, behaviourally grounded factors are more influential in sustaining helmet use than external enforcement alone. The study recommends continuous safety education campaigns, school-based road safety curricula, and targeted enforcement, complemented by affordability initiatives for quality helmets, to further strengthen helmet-wearing behaviour in similar residential communities.

Road Safety, Society

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