Determinants of Road Safety Non-Compliance among Food Delivery Riders: The Role of Socio-Demographic Factors and Work Experience

Research on road safety non-compliance (RSNC) among food delivery riders (FDRs) in Malaysia remains limited, particularly in examining the relationships between sociodemographic factors, work experience, and road safety outcomes. Therefore, this study evaluates the association between sociodemographic factors and RSNC among FDRs in Malaysia, as well as the relationship between riding experience and safety outcomes. A total of 472 responses from FDRs in the Klang Valley were analysed using independent sample t-tests, ANOVA, and cross-tabulation analyses. Among the eleven sociodemographic variables examined, only two variables, namely average daily working hours and monthly income, showed a significant relationship with RSNC among FDRs. Specifically, the findings revealed that riders who worked more than 12 hours per day (p = 0.005) and those without a fixed income (p = 0.030) reported significantly higher levels of RSNC. In contrast, pairwise comparisons for the remaining groups were not significant. These findings indicate that riders experiencing financial pressure and prolonged working hours may be more likely to prioritise work commitments over safety. Meanwhile, cross-tabulation analysis revealed that riders with more than one year of food delivery experience reported greater involvement in road traffic incidents, including near-miss incidents, self-reported crashes, police-reported crashes, as well as minor and severe injuries. Based on the findings, riders with greater experience as FDRs demonstrated a higher involvement in road traffic violations. Overall, the results indicate that work-related pressure and income instability are associated with a greater tendency towards risky riding behavior, while work experience does not necessarily translate into higher levels of safety. This study recommends safety interventions that focus on managing working hours, improving income stability, and reducing risk exposure to minimise RSNC among FDRs.