A Descriptive Analysis of Factors Contributing to Bus Drivers' Performances While Driving: A Case Study in Malaysia
DOI: 10.15282/ijame.11.2015.23.0204
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Summary
This study investigates the environmental factors influencing the performance and comfort of bus drivers in Malaysia, specifically focusing on air temperature, relative humidity, air velocity, and whole-body vibration. The research is motivated by the need to ensure safe and smooth journeys, as driver discomfort from workplace conditions can lead to reduced concentration, motivation, and productivity. By applying principles of environmental ergonomics, the authors aim to identify how these specific variables impact driver satisfaction and operational efficiency. The researchers employed a descriptive survey design targeting bus drivers along the east coast of Malaysia, including the states of Pahang, Terengganu, and Kelantan. Although the total population of Malaysian bus drivers is approximately 800, the study focused on a sample of 260 drivers in Kuantan. Data was collected via a structured questionnaire distributed in person to ensure response quality, with 212 fully completed surveys analyzed. The instrument utilized a 5-point Likert scale to assess drivers’ perceptions of how temperature, humidity, air movement, and vibration affected their comfort and productivity. Respondents were exclusively male, with the majority aged 41–50 and working 11–15 hours per day. The results indicate that air temperature significantly affects driver performance. While opinions on personal discomfort were mixed, a strong majority agreed that productivity is negatively impacted by temperature extremes, suggesting that cooler environments enhance performance by preventing thermal discomfort and distraction. Regarding relative humidity, findings showed a direct relationship where higher humidity levels correlate with lower productivity, confirming that humidity is a critical factor in driving performance. Conversely, air velocity was found to be non-disruptive; most drivers did not feel disturbed by air movement, implying that current cabin air velocities are likely below the threshold of 0.9 m/s, which is considered comfortable. Finally, whole-body vibration levels were reported as acceptable by nearly 80% of drivers, primarily because most respondents operate express buses on freeways with good road conditions, thereby minimizing exposure to high vibration levels that typically degrade performance. The study concludes that management should increase awareness among bus drivers regarding these environmental factors to mitigate performance inadequacies. By understanding how temperature and humidity specifically hinder productivity, stakeholders can better design cabin environments to support driver well-being. The authors suggest that improving these conditions can lead to enhanced driver performance and a reduction in accidents, highlighting the importance of environmental ergonomics in transportation safety. Further research is recommended to explore additional factors supporting driver performance.
Key finding
Bus drivers reported that air temperature and relative humidity significantly affect their productivity and comfort, whereas air velocity and vibration levels were generally perceived as acceptable or non-disturbing.
Methodology
survey
Sample size: 212
Provenance
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| Stage | Outcome | Tool | Model | Prompt | Attempts | Completed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| discover | success | — | — | — | 2 | 2026-05-07 |
| archive | success | canonical_url | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-06 |
| extract | success | cached | — | — | 3 | 2026-06-10 |
| clean | success | clean | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-07 |
| chunk | success | chunk | — | — | 1 | 2026-06-07 |
| embed | success | embed | Qwen/Qwen3-Embedding-8B | — | 1 | 2026-06-07 |
| enrich | partial | normalization | — | — | 4 | 2026-05-28 |
| promote | success | — | — | — | 2 | 2026-05-07 |
| summarize | success | llm | qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant | summ-v5 | 2 | 2026-06-10 |
| tag | success | vector_similarity | — | — | 15 | 2026-06-11 |
| verify | success | — | — | — | 2 | 2026-06-10 |
Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.
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- Empirical Findings: physiological data, self report data
- Theoretical Contribution: theory or model