Public bus/minibus safety concerns predispose passengers to make
safety evaluations and engage in behavioural adaptations (i.e. behaviour
change to compensate for changes in perceived risk) to the
perceived unsafety. This cross-sectional study sought to explore
Public Transport (PT) users’ choice of seating positions in Ghana,
a form of behavioural adaptation to PT unsafety. Data for the study
came from 660 public bus/minibus users (through questionnaire
administration) in three towns (Wa, Kumasi, and Mankessim) in
Ghana. We established the association between the dependent
(preferred seating position) and independent variables (sociodemographic
characteristics, trip duration and perceived safe
seats) via cross-tabulations and Pearson Chi-Square. We tested the
strength of the association (effect size) among the variables using
the Cramer’s V. We found that the seats behind the driver, in the
middle and in front were both the perceived safe seats and the
preferred seating positions on a public bus/minibus in Ghana.
Justifications for these were mainly informed by safety and comfort.
Notably, we observed that occupational status, trip duration and
perceived safe seats determine the preferred seating position on
a public bus/minibus. Our study findings provide further perspectives
on passengers’ seating position decisions which are expected
to inform future research and policy directions.