BEHAVIOURAL COMMUNICATION IN MOTORCYCLE TRAFFIC: MALAYSIAN EVIDENCE AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55197/qjssh.v7i4.1280Keywords:
behavioural communication in traffic, motorcycle safety, informal traffic interaction, road safety policy, good health and well-beingAbstract
Motorcycle traffic dominates mobility in many Southeast Asian cities, yet road safety policy continues to emphasise infrastructure, enforcement, and formal signalling systems. This study examines the role of informal behavioural communication in everyday motorcycle traffic interaction in Malaysia. Using survey evidence from 840 motorcycle riders, supported by enforcement practitioner insights and comparative observations from selected Asian contexts, the research analyses how riders communicate intention, negotiate space, and manage uncertainty in dense mixed traffic conditions. The findings show that riders frequently rely on a set of informal interaction practices including hand gestures, head nodding, brief horn signals, and empathetic yielding. Among these behaviours, yielding and visual acknowledgement emerge as the most prevalent coordination strategies. Respondents strongly associate these practices with reduced misunderstanding, smoother traffic flow, fewer near miss incidents, and stronger perceived safety and confidence while riding. Inferential analysis further indicates that the perceived safety value of these communication practices is consistent across study locations. The study argues that road safety should be understood not only as a regulatory and infrastructural challenge but also as a behavioural communication process embedded in traffic culture. Integrating behavioural communication awareness into rider education, safety campaigns, and policy design may strengthen preventive road safety strategies and contribute to SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being, particularly in reducing traffic accidents and improving public health outcomes in urban mobility systems.
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Copyright (c) 2026 IRWAN IBRAHIM, MOHD HAFIZ ZULFAKAR, AZMI AWANG, JIANBANG NIU, YAO YANG, ABDUL KHABIR RAHMAT
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