By Saiful Bahri Kamaruddin
Pix Saiful Bahri Kamaruddin

BANGI, 27 January 2015 – Disabled drivers have for years faced difficulties in finding vacant parking space despite certain lots were reserved for them because the slots are often taken by those not disabled even though it is illegal.

A group of four form four students from the Sekolah Menengah Teknik Kuala Lumpur helped by three undergraduates from the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment (FKAB) of The National University of Malaysia (UKM) had invented a Parking Monitoring System For The Disabled.

The set-up – exhibited at FKAB here recently in conjunction with its 30th anniversary celebrations – was specially developed by the students to assist people with disabilities who have difficulty finding parking spaces in public areas.

One of the students Ahmad Arif Zahrin Md. Tajuddin said the system can scan the code found on a card held by a registered disabled driver. Those without the card or if the code in the card is not recognised, a buzzer or alarm will go off with a display asking the driver to vacate the space reserved for the disabled.

The system consisting of a pressure pad with a sensor will prompt the disability driver to swipe his card in a scanner and if valid, an LED light will give approval. Otherwise an alarm will go off to warn the undeserving motorist against parking in the reserved space.

Ahmad Arif believed that the loud buzzer is enough to deter errant drivers from taking up vacant parking spaces reserved for the disabled.

Currently there is only a sign to indicate a parking lot is reserved for the disabled which many non-disabled just ignored.

The team from the school was guided by a lecturer and the three third year undergraduates of FKAB who joined the crystal@ukm programme, an initiative to foster an innovative mindset among secondary school students.

Head of the programme Associate Prof Dr Hafizah Husain said many everyday problems can be solved if each school could design such a project.

Dr Hafizah said the students used an allocation of just RM1,000 to purchase devices and spare parts that are readily available in most electronic or hobby stores.

They have yet to submit an application for a patent, which will take time and requires additional funding.