Abstract
The relationship between overweight, obesity, or body mass index (BMI) and crashes among drivers of passenger cars, vans, and trucks has been the focus of much research. However, little is understood about this relationship among motorcyclists, particularly motorcycle taxi drivers who tend to work long hours. Motorcycle taxis are an increasingly popular and important mode of travel in many cities, especially in South-East Asia, due partly to the rise of ride-hailing services. This paper assesses the body mass index (BMI) of motorcycle taxi drivers in Vietnam and its impacts on crashes among three types of drivers (traditional, ride-hailing, and hybrid). Data from a structured questionnaire survey of motorcycle taxi drivers conducted in Hanoi, Vietnam were used. Results show that 18.8% of motorcycle taxi drivers were overweight or obese whereas only 1.4% were underweight. Fulltime motorcycle taxi drivers were more likely to be overweight or obese. Results of random effect binary logistic regression show that overweight and obese motorcycle taxi drivers had significantly higher overall and injury crash risks, when compared to normal-weight motorcycle taxi drivers. Results also indicate that hybrid motorcycle taxi drivers had lower overall and injury crash risks when compared to traditional motorcycle taxi drivers.
Highlights
Obesity and overweight, which can be measured using the body mass index (BMI), is an increasing health issue in many countries [1]
This paper aims to access the body mass index (BMI) of motorcycle taxi drivers in Hanoi, Vietnam and examine its impacts on overall crashes and injury crashes
The focus of this paper is on BMI and its potential effects on crashes among motorcycle taxi drivers
Summary
Obesity and overweight, which can be measured using the body mass index (BMI), is an increasing health issue in many countries [1]. While the literature on the effects of overweight and obesity on riding a motorcycle has been scarce, there are a number of studies, often conducted in developed countries, reporting these effects in the context of driving a car or truck. An association between increased crash risks and obesity was evident among professional truck drivers in the US [2]. Another study of motor vehicle (passenger cars, light trucks, and vans) crashes in the US found that the risk of death increased substantially at both ends of the BMI distribution among male drivers [7]. Among belted female drivers in the US (excluding motorcyclists), normal BMI was associated with the lowest risk of deaths [8]
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