A conceptual framework of the road safety index for motorcyclists among school students in Malaysia based on a systematic literature review

Motorcycle accidents contribute substantially to road fatalities in Malaysia, particularly among school-aged motorcyclists. Despite the implementation of various road safety initiatives, accident statistics continue to rise, indicating the limited effectiveness of existing interventions. Road safety indices are widely used to assess safety performance and identify areas for improvement; however, most existing indices focus on general road users and lack specificity for school students. To address this gap, this study proposes a Road Safety Index (RSI) that measures road safety among school-aged motorcyclists in Malaysia. A systematic literature review (SLR) is conducted using Scopus, Web of Science, MyCite, and Google Scholar to identify relevant studies related to road safety and motorcycle safety in the context of school students. Following the PRISMA guidelines, 22 articles published between 2021 and 2025 are identified. Based on the review, a multidimensional conceptual framework for the proposed RSI is developed, grounded in the Safe System Approach advocated by the World Health Organization (WHO). The framework comprises five key components: safe users, safe vehicles, safe environments, policy and education, and post-crash management. The proposed RSI is aligned with national and global road safety visions, including the Malaysia Road Safety Plan 2022-2030 and Sustainable Development Goal target 3.6.