Technical Report - Final

                     Background

Hand grips in public trains are of paramount importance when it comes to safety of the trains commuters. As the train moves, standing commuters will use the hand grips to keep their balance. During peak hours, 84.4% of commuters are standing. Out of the standing commuters, only 19.3% are able to use the support poles while the 20% will need to use the hand grip instead according to Ng (N.D)

The grab handles in Singapore’s MRT are suspended at approximately 170cm, 4 cm shorter than the average height of a Singaporean male at 174cm as stated by Toh (2010). Based on an earlier survey conducted for this project, 88% of respondent find the hand grips to be an obstruction. With the current design, the hand grips swing back and forth while the train moves or when the previous person holding it lets go. Commuters standing in the range of the swinging motion of the hand grip may get hit by it. In the conduct of an evacuation, commuters will need to walk through to either ends of the train. During which, the hand grips may be an obstruction for commuters.

Additionally, 66.7% of respondents find it unsafe to hold onto the hand grips as they find that the hand grip is not sturdy. As the train suddenly speeds up or slows down, some commuters may be thrown off balance. The hand grip turns with the commuter, and thus does not serve as a stable support to prevent the commuter from falling and getting injured.

The minimal changes to the hand grip design over the years proves the potential for change to be more effective in the future. The effects of technology can be implemented on the hand grips to better its functionality.

With the main stakeholder being SMRT and its investors, the safety of commuters should be enhanced and improved to keep up its reputable standards of a world class transport system.