Globally, road traffic accidents pose a significant and pressing issue, resulting in numerous fatalities and injuries. In the Philippines, the escalating rates of road-related deaths and accidents underscore the critical need to comprehend the factors influencing safe driving behavior, particularly among Filipino private car drivers. This research explores the determinants impacting perceived safe driving behaviors, employing the framework of the Protection Motivation Theory and the Three Broad Domains of Ergonomics framework. Utilizing a survey questionnaire and structural equation modeling (SEM), the study seeks to uncover the intricate correlation between driving experience, geographical perception, level of understanding, perceived severity, perceived vulnerability, physical ergonomics, cognitive ergonomics, macro ergonomics, and perceived safe driving. The study garnered responses from 510 respondents through a digital survey questionnaire using a convenience sampling method.

The results show that the latent variables driving experience, geographical perception, level of understanding, perceived severity, perceived vulnerability, physical ergonomics, and cognitive ergonomics were identified as factors that have a significant impact on the perceived safe driving behavior of Filipino Private car drivers. Among these latent variables, perceived vulnerability is the most crucial factor in perceived safe driving behavior, with a p-value of 0.006. However, macro ergonomics shows an insignificant effect on Filipino private car drivers’ perceived safe driving behavior. The study provides insights into the factors influencing perceived safe driving behavior among Filipino private car drivers. The findings can be used to develop interventions and policies to improve road safety in the Philippines.