Fatalistic Beliefs, Invulnerability to Danger, Risk Perception and Risk-Taking among Cameroonian Motorcycle Taxi Drivers

Abstract

Driving condition is an extraordinary context which requires the driver to make appropriate decisions in order to be able to overcome and protect others. This study aimed to explore relationship between the feeling of invulnerability, fatalistic beliefs, risk perception and road risk-taking among Cameroonian motorcycle taxi drivers. One hundred and seventeen men Cameroonian motorcycle taxi drivers aged 18 to 50, from three associations of motorcycle taxi drivers in the city of Yaoundé took part in this study. Data was collected through scales of fatalism, Invulnerability to Danger, Risk Perception and Protective Motivation Questionnaire. According to hypothesis, results showed predetermination (H1), perception of the accident and perception of the penalty (H2) and feeling of invulnerability to danger (H3) is associated with the motivation to protect oneself against traffic accidents among Cameroonian motorcycle taxi drivers. The road risk-taking is linked to the cognitive processes involved in the situation. Those processes must be taken into account when developing prevention messages for motorcycle taxi drivers.