Can Fatigue Detection Devices Predict the Driving Performance of Sleep-Deprived Drivers?
Fatigue is a subjective state, but it clearly related to sleep deprivation. This study examined the relationship between sleep deprivation and driving performance. The objective of this study was to determine whether or not there are correlations between sleep deprivation, driving performance, and various potential measures of impairment. Twenty commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers (18 male, two female) were recruited with help from the Minnesota Trucking Association. Each driver participated in an experimental session lasting 20 hours. The driver was kept awake throughout the session, and drove four times in an advanced driving simulator. Throughout each drive, driving performance data were recorded at 20 Hz. In addition to collecting driving performance data we also assessed impairment with several test instruments throughout the testing period, including a pupillometer.
