Research Team
Principal Investigator: Dr Che Maohao, Lecturer, College of Interdisciplinary & Experiential Learning, Core Learning

Co-Principal Investigators:

  • Dr Teo Leong Hwee - Senior Lecturer, College of Interdisciplinary & Experiential Learning, Core Learning
  • Dr Angela Tan Li Sin - Head (Human Factors and Safety Programme), School of Science and Technology, and Research Lead (Workplace Safety), Behavioural Insights Centre of Excellence

Beyond the Steering Wheel: A Closer Look at the Bus Captain's World

Public bus captains spend much of their working day seated in a confined, moving workspace. Prolonged sitting, repeated pedal use, vibration, awkward reaching, poorly fitted seats and limited recovery time can accumulate into neck, lower-back, shoulder and leg discomfort. The project addresses the need for locally grounded evidence on how the bus cabin, work schedule and on-board technology affect the ergonomics of bus captains in Singapore.

 

How we studied the Problem

The research combined a large face-to-face survey with detailed interviews. The team collected 234 survey responses from bus captains at 13 bus interchanges and conducted individual interviews with 21 captains in English or Chinese. After incomplete survey records were removed, 184 responses were available for structural modelling. The survey measured discomfort across different body areas and examined physical factors such as seating, posture, vibration, reaching and observing mirrors or devices. The interviews then explored how these issues arise during actual shifts, how they vary across bus models and routes, and how captains cope with them. This mixed-method approach links measurable patterns with the day-to-day experience of operating a public bus.

Key results


Among the physical factors assessed, the driver's seat received the highest discomfort rating, followed by driving posture and vibration. The statistical model further showed that the combined physical factors were significantly associated with both physical discomfort and stress levels, while work-related stressors were also associated with both outcomes. This suggests that cabin design and operational demands should be considered together rather than treated as separate issues.

"Bus captains spend long hours in a workspace that moves with them. Our findings show that practical changes - better-fitting seats, protected time to stretch, and testing devices as an integrated cockpit - could reduce strain while supporting safer and more sustainable operations. The next step is to validate these findings across the wider public bus industry."

Dr Che Maohao, Lecturer in SUSS College of Interdisciplinary & Experiential Learning, lead researcher of the study.

What it could mean in the real world


The findings point to practical improvements at both individual and system levels. Stretching and muscle-strengthening exercises could be incorporated into training, with protected time during shifts for captains to use them. An anthropometric study of the local workforce could provide measurements needed to specify and procure seats, pedal arrangements and controls that better fit Singapore's bus captains. Safety technologies should also be tested as an integrated driver workspace rather than introduced device by device, so that alert sounds, display locations and system interactions can be assessed together. These measures could reduce physical strain, support sustained attention and contribute to safer, more comfortable operations.

 

What comes next


The next step is to validate the findings through a broader study involving other public bus operators and relevant government agencies. The report also proposes developing a dedicated ergonomics and human-factors research capability, potentially through collaboration between the operator and SUSS. This platform could conduct anthropometric studies, evaluate seat and cabin designs, trial integrated on-board devices and translate evidence into procurement, training and operational guidance for the wider public transport sector.