Motorcyclists vs car drivers: Quantifying the magnitude of vehicular discomforts experienced between operating a motorcycle and a car

Abstract

Vehicular discomforts are a type discomforts experienced by a human operator upon operating a vehicle. This type of discomfort could prevail both physically and physiologically. Generally, it could be said that vehicular discomfort is almost inevitable for all vehicles. Even so, from the preliminary studies, it was found that it is a norm for the Malaysian public to have a preconception that a motorcycle possessed a higher degree of vehicular discomfort that as oppose to a car. Hence, this study was made in order to test the validity of this cognitive linkage made by the public. The aim of this research was to quantify the magnitude of differences between the vehicular discomfort experienced between operating a motorcycle and a car. In addition, the sources of vehicular discomfort of these two modes of transportation were also identified. The methods used for this study were working posture assessment and survey studies (consisting of a questionnaire study and semi-structured interviews). From the selected research methodology, it was found that both types of vehicles showed an almost similar vehicular discomforts patterns. Even so, the sources of vehicular discomfort presented by these two types of vehicles are unique. By identifying the sources of vehicular discomfort given by these two types of vehicles, further ergonomics improvements could be implemented and more in depth research could be performed.