ipl-logo

Driver Fatigue Research Paper

904 Words4 Pages

Driver fatigue

Studies conducted by the European Transport Safety Council highlight that fatigue contributes to approximately 10% to 20% of road crashes (Zheng Wang,). Similarly Horne and Reyner (1995) report that approximately 20% of worldwide motor vehicle accidents on motor-ways and other monotonous roads are caused by drivers falling asleep behind the wheel due to fatigue. However significant awareness must focus on the fact that fatigue causes problems for driving performance well before the driver actually falls asleep meaning that “one of the major challenges in addressing the impact of driving fatigue is the difficulty in detecting fatigue and issuing a warning, particularly when fatigue is likely to increase the incidence of crashes” …show more content…

Zheng Wang (####) demonstrates that driver fatigue can be subcategorized into sleep-related and task-related fatigue. Such subdivision is dependent on various factors which significantly contribute to the driver’s fatigue state.

Task-related fatigue is caused be external factors which are not controlled by the operator. Both of these factors correlate to the driving task and the driving environment. Furthermore, task-related fatigue is subcategorized into active and passive fatigue. Active fatigue is dependent on an overload state of driving conditions, whereas passive fatigue is induced by under load conditions. Overload states may be caused by severe traffic conditions, extreme weather conditions as well as performing multiple tasks while driving. Under load conditions are the result of a monotony state such as an empty straight freeway as well as a plain and flat driving environment.
FIND AN …show more content…

Kimura et al. (2008) conducted a statistical analysis on the Japan National railway correlating the quality of the trains with vibrations. The study was conducted over a variety of trains and journeys investigating the correlation between vertical vibration and the Ratio of Sleeping Passengers (RSP). Results highlighted that low frequency vibration between 0 and 2 Hz had a positive effect on sleepiness whereas vibrations between 10 and 20 Hz significantly reduce the RSP ratio descending train ride quality. Also the research supports the hypothesis that sleep induction technology may be used to cure insomnia patients or to aid sleepless parents of newborn babies. Yet such research lacks in providing an analysis on the effect of the amplitude of the vibration on a state of sleepiness or

More about Driver Fatigue Research Paper

Open Document