Predicting behavioral intentions for unsafe off-highway vehicle use.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Behavioral Science
• Injury Prevention

Background:

• Off-highway vehicles (OHVs) pose significant risks, leading to numerous adult fatalities and injuries annually.
• Understanding the behavioral factors contributing to OHV incidents is crucial for developing effective safety interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the intention to engage in common risk-taking behaviors while operating OHVs.
• To examine these intentions within the framework of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB).

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 161 adult OHV operators.
• Measures included OHV experience, injury exposure, and self-reported behavioral intentions aligned with the TPB.
• Predictive models were used to analyze behavioral intentions for four common injury risk behaviors.

Main Results:

• Attitudes and perceived behavioral control were consistent predictors of intentions to engage in OHV risk behaviors.
• Subjective norms, number of vehicles operated, and injury exposure demonstrated varied relationships with specific risk behaviors.
• These findings highlight intrapersonal factors influencing OHV injury risk.

Conclusions:

• The Theory of Planned Behavior provides a valuable framework for understanding OHV risk-taking intentions.
• Intervention strategies should address attitudes and perceived control to mitigate OHV injuries.
• Further research can refine injury prevention efforts by considering a broader range of behavioral and situational factors.