The necessities of effective adaptive driving modification guidelines for the independent disabled driver vehicle

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of how implementing a guideline for vehicle modification would help to produce safer driving, particularly for a person with disabilities. A total of 29 participants consisting of 8 licensing officers, 12 automotive engineering officers, 11 NGO representatives from Persatuan Orang-orang Cacat Anggota Malaysia (POCAM), Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Orang Kerdil Malaysia (PKOKM) and 6 disabled vehicle manufacturers were gathered and interviewed for this study. This study emphasises the important aspects to ensure that a modified vehicle is safe and suitable for driving purposes. The interview also looks at the respondent's views of how they act and what they find when they assess or conduct modifications to a vehicle, particularly for the use of the disabled community. The results of this interview were analysed using the Nvivo software. The results of this study show that there is no special provision on the aspect of safety, installation, assembly to assure whether a modified vehicle for the disabled person is safe to be driven on road. Almost all of these aspects depend on the suitability and comfort of the consumer as a result of differing disability conditions. This situation has led to difficulties in having appropriate modification to assist a person with disabilities ability to drive.