Title: Ergonomic intervention in meeting the challenges of elderly drivers: identifying, prioritising and factorising the ergonomic attributes

Authors: Ashish Dutta; A.K. Bhardwaj; A.P.S. Rathore

Addresses: Mechanical Engineering Department, Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Malaviya Nagar, Jaipur, 302017, India ' Deceased; formerly of: Mechanical Engineering Department, Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Malaviya Nagar, Jaipur, 302017, India ' Mechanical Engineering Department, Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Malaviya Nagar, Jaipur, 302017, India

Abstract: Better life expectancy has caused a demographic shift worldwide. The number of elder drivers (aged above 65) has increased, who, even with physiological limitations, do not want to give up driving. This has necessitated conscious efforts to be made for analysing their ergonomic needs and challenges. This research was aimed to identify the major ergonomic concern of the aged drivers that will improve their posture, increase attention and decrease fatigue during driving. Their needs were grouped in 10 ergonomic attributes and their voice about each attribute was captured from a consumer survey. Attributes were prioritised and factor analysis was carried out. Three factors were extracted and were named as musculoskeletal factor, safety factor, and man-machine interface factor. This research provides an understanding of the ergonomic needs of the senior drivers, which the car manufacturers and automobile designers may consider during the design phase to make a car ergonomically more compatible.

Keywords: automobile design and development; car ergonomics; challenges of elders; elder drivers; ergonomic attributes; factor analysis; factorising attributes; participatory ergonomics; prioritising attributes; vehicle design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2019.102336

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2019 Vol.79 No.2/3, pp.168 - 189

Received: 02 Oct 2018
Accepted: 19 Jun 2019
Published online: 19 Sep 2019 *

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