PUNE, February 12: An average Indian is shorter than his/her North American counterpart, has a larger circumference at the waist, has wider though smaller feet, has shorter legs than his/her North American counterpart, although both have the same arm reach....While this data may sound frivolous, it is critical for car designers since it has relevance to comfort, fatigue and thus overall safety.
Although international car manufacturers in India have said they would "Indianise" their models for the Indian road conditions, they have not modified them to meet the ergonomic requirements of the Indian driver, male or female, since no data was available. Now, with the findings from the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI)'s "The ergonomic study of the Indian driving population", the situation could be remedied.
Officials at the ARAI pointed out that for the first time anywhere in the world they had also included two-wheelers in their study since it is a family vehicle in India.
The findings ofthe study will be released shortly as a CD priced at around Rs 5,000. Since there are regional differences even within the country, the survey covered the four geographical regions with a sample size of 2,000 people, 40 per cent of which was female. The study was focused on three parameters of comfort, fatigue and safety.
Although the study notes the ergonomic requirements of the Indian physique, it does not make any direct comparison with the existing vehicles.
For example, the study notes that the two-wheeler driving position preferred by women is significantly different from that of men. This would mean that by and large two wheelers, which are designed mainly for men, are not very comfortable for the average Indian woman. This is more apparent in the older makes which have not changed much over the past 30 years. The handle height for two wheelers, for example, is 878 mm for women in the 95th percentile, while it is 905 mm for men in the same percentile limit. This would mean that even if the presenttwo-wheeler conforms to the Indian male's physique, it is not comfortable for the Indian woman. The report, however, does not mention the actual height of the handle of two wheelers which could indicate it does not meet the Indian male's anthropometric measurements either.
The study notes that automotive engineers design automobile bodies around the physical characteristics of the average man and include dimensions as eye level, wheel clearance, head room, steering angle, and so on.
Ignoring this principle could result in the needs of only about 60 per cent of the driving population being accommodated. ARAI officials noted that in the process of collecting the data, they found that some cars were not really suitable for the Indian person, causing difficulties while entering and exiting. Another feature noticed was that the clearance between the steering wheel and thigh was very low, the distance between the three pedals very little-all of which have safety connotations. Officials further pointed out thatit was not enough to have air bags and other safety features without the first most basic features of comfort which have a bearing on overall safety. The ARAI survey of 2,000 respondents covered four regions -- Pune, Bangalore, Calcutta and Delhi. The Rs 10-lakh project, approved by the Union industries ministry, carried out its static anthropometry measurements in a mobile kit, mounted on a vehicle provided by a auto manufacturer.
This is being seen as a favourable sign that the industry will be interested in the study. Officials were optimistic that at least 50 CDs would be sold in the first year.
Since this is the first time such a study has been undertaken in the country, it will be of relevance to a host of manufacturers apart from the automotive and component manufacturers. These findings will have applications for footwear manufacturers, medical electronics (for artificial limbs), architects, furniture designers and others. ARAI officials were hopeful of continuing the study to update and refinethe findings by widening the data base to 10,000 and then 20,000 people. They also plan to extend the static anthropometric data of this report to dynamic anthropometry.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
