Risky Driving Behaviours in Low and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review of Prevalence, Behavioural Mechanisms, and Evidence-Based Interventions

Description

This review synthesises evidence on risky driving behaviours across low and middle income countries (LMICs), focusing on prevalence, demographic and geographical patterns, cultural determinants, recommended interventions, and research gaps. Guided by PRISMA 2020 standards, a systematic search of Scopus, TRID, and Google Scholar identified studies published between 2020 and 2025. Screening was conducted independently by two reviewers, and methodological quality was assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist, the CASP Qualitative Checklist, and the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Due to substantial heterogeneity in study designs and outcome measures, findings were narratively synthesised. A total of 161 studies involving 2,367,804 participants across 47 LMICs met the inclusion criteria. Traffic violations (20.8%), distracted driving (19.3%), and aggressive driving (17.3%) were the most commonly examined behaviours. Male drivers represented 68.6% of participants, with most studies focusing on individuals aged 26–40. Cultural influences were prominent: social norms and risk perception were key determinants of risky driving in 43.5% and 30.4% of studies, respectively. Although cultural and behavioural interventions were the most frequently recommended strategies (25.5%), none of the reviewed studies provided empirical evidence on intervention effectiveness. Research was geographically uneven, dominated by studies from China, India, and Iran, with limited evidence from Central America, the Caribbean, and many Southern African Development Community countries. Overall, risky driving in LMICs is shaped by intersecting cultural and structural factors. The lack of intervention effectiveness research represents the most critical gap, highlighting the need for experimental evaluations and more geographically diverse evidence.

Steps to reproduce

3 databases were used to review the literature for Paper 1. These are i. Scopus (main) ii. Google Scholar iii. TRID ("aberrant driving" OR "reckless driving" OR "dangerous driving" OR "risky driving" OR "aggressive driving" OR "traffic violations" OR "erratic driving" OR "deviant driving" OR "irregular driving behaviors" OR "unsafe driving actions" OR "irresponsible driving conduct" OR "non-compliant driving" OR "distracted driving" ) AND ( magnitude OR measurement OR trend OR extent OR size OR significance OR scope OR level OR intensity OR degree OR proportion OR impact OR consequences OR impact ) AND ( "road safety" OR "traffic system" OR "transport policy" OR "urban mobility" OR "law enforcement" ) TRID Data String ("aberrant driving" OR "reckless driving" OR "risky driving" OR "aggressive driving" OR "traffic violations" OR "erratic driving" OR "deviant driving" OR "unsafe driving actions" OR "irresponsible driving conduct" OR "non-compliant driving" OR "distracted driving" ) AND ( magnitude OR trend OR extent OR significance OR consequences OR impact ) GOOGLE SCHOLAR Search date: 02/03/2025 Time: 12:19 ("developing countries" AND ("aberrant driving" OR "reckless driving") AND (magnitude OR measurement OR extent) AND ("road safety" OR "traffic behaviour")

Institutions

• University of Zimbabwe

  Harare, Harare

Categories

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