Change in helmet use behavior enforced by CCTV cameras with automatic helmet use detection system on an urban arterial road

Abstract

Objective

Many developing countries experience a high death toll among motorcycle users (both drivers and passengers), primarily due to a relatively low rate of helmet use resulting from ineffective helmet law enforcement. The objectives of this study are to explore the change in helmet use behavior due to helmet use enforcement by closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera technology with an automatic helmet use detection system and to identify the factors associated with helmet use along an urban arterial road in the city of Khon Kaen, Thailand.

Methods

Data collection was carried out on 49,128 samples by video cameras installed at 5 signalized intersections during 2 periods, namely, before and during the CCTV camera enforcement. The study applied logistic regression analysis to determine factors associated with helmet use and to compare the ratio of helmet use for each variable according to the odds ratio.

Results

The study found that CCTV camera enforcement could increase helmet usage at all study intersections by 5.3%. The results imply that 4 factors, including riding status, number of passengers, day of week, and traffic conditions, significantly affected helmet use both before and during the CCTV camera enforcement. Remarkably, 2 more variables, age and police inspection, significantly affected helmet use during the CCTV camera enforcement period.

Conclusions

This study confirms that CCTV camera enforcement can be an important driving force for changing helmet use behavior, particularly for child passengers. Moreover, CCTV camera enforcement can support enforcement by extending coverage to a 24-h period and to intersections without police inspection.

Keywords:

• Helmet use
• motorcyclist
• CCTV camera enforcement
• logistic regression
• urban arterial road

Acknowledgments

This research received a Research Fund for Supporting Lecturer to Admit High Potential Student to Study and Research on His Expert Program Year 2016 at the Graduate School, Khon Kaen University, Thailand.

Disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.