Safe driving behaviors among taxi drivers: a predictive cross-sectional study based on the health belief model

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to predict safe driving behaviors among taxi drivers of Tehran based on the constructs of health belief model. METHODS: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 450 taxi drivers in Tehran using multi-stage sampling. Data were analyzed through SPSS software version 18 using Pearson correlation coefficient and multivariate regression analysis. The P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Among the constructs of health belief model, perceived severity, perceived benefits and self-efficacy, had significant and direct relationship and perceived barriers had a significant and reverse relationship with safe driving behaviors. According to the results, the constructs of health belief model predicted 17.3% of safe driving behaviors. Self-efficacy was the strongest determinant of safety behaviors (0.362 CI 0.098–0.625). CONCLUSIONS: Increasing self-efficacy, reducing perceived barriers and highlighting benefits for the purpose of accepting safe behaviors can be considered as a principle in driving education and training. Also, increasing the perceived severity of adverse outcomes of RTAs and the susceptibility to these outcomes will lead to higher levels of safe driving behaviors.