Journal of the Society of Automotive Engineers Malaysia

A Malaysian CRS-Vehicle Compatibility Assessment Framework: Development and Application of the FitSURE Program

2026-09-15T02:41:15+00:00

Child Restraint System (CRS) effectiveness depends not only on regulatory compliance but also on correct installation and compatibility with vehicle seating systems. This study presents the development and application of the FitSURE Programme (Fitment of Child Restraint Systems in Vehicles), a Malaysian-specific framework designed to assess CRS–vehicle compatibility under real-world conditions. FitSURE is based on structured physical installation trials of CRS models commonly available in Malaysia across representative passenger vehicles. Installations were evaluated using standardised fit, placement, and securing criteria aligned with ASEAN NCAP installation checks, and categorized as Pass, Fail, or Not Applicable. A total of 986 CRS installation cases were assessed. Results showed that second-row outboard seats achieved the highest compatibility, while center and third-row seats exhibited greater structural constraints. When adjusted for applicability, pass rates exceeded 85% across most CRS categories. FitSURE complements existing assessment frameworks by providing vehicle-specific guidance that supports informed CRS selection and safer child occupant protection in Malaysia.

Investigation of Risky Behaviour Among Indonesian Riders in Motorcycle-to-Motorcycle Collisions

2026-09-15T02:49:27+00:00

Motorcycle-to-motorcycle collisions are common, yet studies using video and questionnaire data are limited. This study analyzed 100 accident videos from social media and 100 questionnaire responses using crosstab and chi-square tests to identify patterns, key causal factors, and risky riding behaviors. Significant video variables (p < 0.05) included lighting (0.019), road category (0.034; 0.000), ignoring road markings (0.009), motorcycle brand (0.007), maneuvering (0.001), wrong-way riding (0.023), road width (0.032), traffic density (0.029), failure to use turn signals (0.007), high-speed riding (0.003), motorcycle type (0.011), intersections (0.045), and running red lights (0.031). Questionnaire data showed significant associations with failing to check mirrors (0.018), helmet use (0.043), age (0.005), and mechanical problems (0.001). The findings highlight the need for integrated prevention strategies, combining traffic discipline education with active safety technologies such as Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Traction Control System (TCS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning/Lane Keeping Assist (LDW/LKA), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA), Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR), Driver Monitoring System (DMS), Blind Spot Monitoring, Automatic Headlamp On (AHO), Traffic Jam Assist (TJA), Intersection Assist/Cross Traffic Alert, and Automatic Turn Signal/Smart Indicators, as well as passive measures like wearable airbags and helmets with inner sun visors. By integrating these measures, the study suggests that such interventions can more effectively reduce motorcycle accident risks in Indonesia.

Unveiling Motorcyclist Behaviour Using Naturalistic Riding Study

2026-09-15T02:53:06+00:00

Motorcyclists represent a significant portion of road users in Malaysia, where motorcycle-related accidents contribute disproportionately to road fatalities and injuries. Traditional data collection methods, such as crash reports and simulations, often lack the contextual detail and behavioural nuance necessary to understand rider risk exposure. This study employs the Naturalistic Riding Study (NRS) approach to collect and analyze the riding behaviour of motorcyclists in urban and suburban areas in the Klang Valley region, Malaysia. To facilitate data collection, an Internet-of-Things (IoT) system is developed to detect real-time riders' behaviour. This paper illustrates the development of the system and presents some data collected during the pilot test.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Road Safety in Sumatera Utara: Challenging Global Standards through the Lens of Local Driving Culture

2026-09-15T02:55:12+00:00

Road safety in Sumatera Utara presents a complex and multidimensional challenge. This study aims to analyze traffic accident patterns in
the region to identify key contributing factors and derive implications for advancing vehicle safety and infrastructure toward international standards. The research employs a multi-faceted methodology, comprehensively exploring the relationship between secondary data, direct observation, and interviews. Quantitative analysis of traffic accident data from 2021 to 2024 was conducted to identify trends and
characteristics of vulnerable vehicles. This analysis was reinforced by in-depth interviews with police investigators and direct observation of road conditions and driving behavior in Medan. The findings reveal an alarming upward trend in accident rates, with the total number of cases rising significantly from 5,616 in 2021 to 6,850 in 2024. Data show that motorcycles significantly dominate accident incidents, involved in over 70% of total cases. Furthermore, accidents involving passenger cars and cargo vehicles in consecutive collisions also contribute substantially to the rising numbers and severity. This vulnerability is rooted in a unique and unsafe driving culture, characterized by reckless behavior, high speeds, and a pervasive disregard for traffic regulations. These factors are exacerbated by situational impulses like being rushed or careless. This culture directly challenges the fundamental assumptions of global safety standards and the effectiveness of modern safety technology. Therefore, improving road safety in Sumatera Utara requires a progressive approach that involves infrastructure improvements, stricter law enforcement, and the adoption of active safety technologies that are adaptive to the local cultural context.

Using Road Characteristics Database to Support Protocol-Specific Track Identification for Vehicle Safety Testing

2026-09-15T03:05:26+00:00

The growing demand for a structured database to support vehicle safety testing necessitates the systematic identification of road tracks that align with ASEAN NCAP protocols. This study aims to develop a Road Characteristics Database underpinned by a standardized data model and data dictionary, addressing a critical gap in harmonizing real-world road environments for testing applications. The methodology followed a structured five-step process. First, a thematic literature review, document analysis, and on-site inspections were
conducted to extract attributes from ASEAN NCAP and other testing frameworks. Second, these attributes were analyzed and validated through pattern recognition and statistical testing, leading to the construction of a harmonized data model aligned with international NCAP standards. Third, survey instruments were designed based on the validated attributes, and in the fourth step, these instruments were applied to real-world road segments, resulting in the development of a data model and confirmation of protocol suitability. Finally, a PHP-based user interface was implemented and linked to a MySQL database, enabling structured data entry, validation, and query functions. The results produced a validated set of 32 road infrastructure attributes, subsequently expanded into a standardized data
dictionary containing 52 harmonized parameters. Seven candidate tracks were identified, supporting up to 25 NCAP test protocol scenarios, with each track accommodating two to five test types depending on its characteristics. Work is ongoing to expand the database to 50–60 tracks. The user interface was tested successfully, with statistical validation confirming strong reliability (average score = 0.85; standard deviation = 0.26). Future enhancements will integrate advanced analytics and intelligent search tools, enabling users to identify road segments by specific testing criteria and thereby improving efficiency, interoperability, and decision-making in vehicle safety assessments.

Risky Driving Behaviors and Severity of Commuting Accidents in Malaysia

2026-09-15T03:09:20+00:00

Commuting accidents, occurring during travel to or from the workplace, remain a critical contributor to Malaysia’s road accident statistics. This study investigates how risky driving behaviors influence the severity of commuting accidents, specifically in car-to-motorcyclist collisions, a commonly overlooked crash type in occupational safety research. Using a quantitative design, data were
collected from 58 respondents via structured questionnaires, and Spearman’s correlation was applied to assess the relationships between four risky driving behaviors and accident severity. Results indicate that commuting accidents are most common among female workers aged 31–50 in manufacturing, education, and retail sectors, with cars more frequently involved than motorcycles. Aggressive
behaviors, particularly running red lights, showed the strongest association with accident severity. The study offers new insight into how demographic factors and unsafe commuting behaviors intersect to shape accident outcomes, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions in workplace commuting safety programs. These findings contribute to the field of commuting accidents and represent a significant part of Malaysia’s commuting accident statistics, highlighting the importance of improving occupational and public safety.

Five Years of MyMAP: Consumer Awareness and Riders' Perceptions

2026-09-15T03:15:32+00:00

Motorcycles are a vital transportation mode in many low- and middle-income ASEAN countries, including Malaysia, where they make up nearly half of all registered vehicles but disproportionately contribute to road traffic injuries and fatalities. In response, Malaysia introduced the Malaysia Motorcycle Assessment Program (MyMAP), a consumer-focused star rating system aimed at promoting safer
motorcycles and encouraging industry compliance with safety standards. This study examines Malaysian motorcyclists’ awareness and perceptions of MyMAP, based on survey responses from 760 riders. Results show that only 25.3% of respondents have heard of MyMAP, but nearly half (50.9%) correctly identified its purpose as a motorcycle star rating program, indicating some recognition of the concept. However, only 19.1% demonstrated both awareness and accurate understanding, revealing a significant communication gap. Awareness was notably related to gender, education, occupation, and income, with higher awareness among women, lower-income groups, and those with less education. Online platforms were the main source of information (56.3%), highlighting the importance of digital outreach. Although most respondents supported the safety star rating idea and thought it could influence their purchasing decisions, nearly half (48.4%) said they would still buy a motorcycle with less than a five-star rating. These results emphasize the need for better consumer education, targeted outreach efforts, and integrating MyMAP ratings into purchasing decisions and policies to enhance its safety impact.

Public Readiness towards AEB Adoption in Malaysia: Demographic and Perceptual Perspectives

2026-09-15T03:18:46+00:00

Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) is a key active safety technology that can reduce crash severity and frequency. In Malaysia, where road traffic injuries remain a major public health concern, understanding public readiness to adopt AEB is essential for shaping policy and industry strategies. This study examined the influence of demographic and perceptual factors on readiness to adopt AEB. A structured survey of 450 respondents captured demographic characteristics (age, gender, education, income, vehicle ownership, vehicle type,
driving experience) and perceptual variables (awareness, understanding, impressions, prior experience). Data were analyzed using chi-square tests to identify significant associations with readiness levels. The results show that overall readiness is high, with more than 70% of respondents reporting they are ready or very ready to adopt AEB. Significant demographic associations were observed for gender, education, income, vehicle ownership, vehicle type, and driving experience, while age was not significant. All perceptual factors demonstrated strong associations with readiness, underscoring the importance of awareness, impressions, and experience in shaping acceptance. These findings suggest that while socio-economic characteristics influence opportunities for adoption, perceptual drivers are more decisive in determining readiness. The study provides practical insights for policymakers, manufacturers and ASEAN NCAP, emphasizing the need for awareness campaigns, affordability strategies and wider integration of AEB into vehicle safety standards to accelerate adoption and improve road safety in Malaysia.

Motorcycle Blind Spot Detection: A Two-Way Awareness

2026-09-15T03:29:14+00:00

This study aims to analyze the factors that significantly influence motorcycle riders' intention to adopt Blind Spot Detection (BSD) technology. By integrating the framework of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this research examines how latent variables such as Perceived Usefulness (PU), Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU), Attitude toward the Behaviour (ATP), Subjective Norm (SN), and Perceived Behavioural Control (PBC) collectively shape behavioural intention. The empirical data were collected from 450 respondents and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The descriptive analysis results indicate that although the majority of respondents (80.9%) are familiar with the BSD symbol and 84% understand its function, a significant "awareness gap" exists, where only 60.4% of respondents know the appropriate response action when the BSD indicator lights up. Furthermore, the PLS-SEM analysis reveals that subjective norms are the strongest predictor in the formation of a positive attitude toward BSD. Significant indirect effects were also identified, confirming the crucial role of intention to use as a mediating variable. These findings provide a theoretical contribution by enriching the understanding of the motivations behind the adoption of safety technology and offer practical implications for educational strategies that focus not only on information but also on shaping behaviour and social norms.

Unveiling Risk Factors in Motorcycle Safety: A Data-Driven Analysis in Spain

2026-09-15T03:38:00+00:00

This study analyses motorcycle safety in Spain using an Exposure-Based Risk Index (IREx) methodology applied to 4,006,804 registered motorcycles and 30,875 road accidents from 2022. The research integrates regionally specific Vehicle Kilometers Travelled (VKT) estimation combining traffic census data, technical inspection information, and statistical modelling. Key findings reveal rider age as the predominant risk factor, with riders ≤24 years showing higher accident probability. Vehicles with high-displacement engines (>500cc) and Sport touring motorcycles present elevated mortality risks compared to other motorcycle categories. The methodology addresses critical gaps in exposure-based assessment through comprehensive Spanish traffic pattern analysis and refined risk stratification with transparent uncertainty quantification. Findings support ASEAN NCAP's motorcycle safety protocol development by establishing evidence-based risk profiles and providing actionable insights for targeted interventions, particularly for high-risk populations. This scalable framework offers an adaptable motorcycle risk assessment methodology for diverse regional contexts, supporting evidence-based road safety policies.