Title: On the concept and measurement of driver drowsiness, fatigue and inattention: implications for countermeasures

Authors: Pilar Tejero Gimeno, Gemma Pastor Cerezuela, Mariano Choliz Montanes

Addresses: Departamento de Psicologia Basica, University of Valencia, Facultad de Psicologia, Avda. Blasco Ibanez 21, 46010 Valencia, Spain. ' Departamento de Psicologia Basica, University of Valencia, Facultad de Psicologia, Avda. Blasco Ibanez 21, 46010 Valencia, Spain. ' Departamento de Psicologia Basica, University of Valencia, Facultad de Psicologia, Avda. Blasco Ibanez 21, 46010 Valencia, Spain

Abstract: This paper focuses on the concepts of drowsiness, fatigue and inattention and the objective measurement of these processes while driving a vehicle. The major aim is to point to factors that are important in order to develop effective countermeasures against these human problems, including systems that continuously assess the driver|s state and the quality of driving, which record online biobehavioural data of the driver and vehicle-based performance data. A selection of recent works on the effectiveness of the various types of countermeasures being studied is provided. Finally, problems that affect most of the research in these fields are noted.

Keywords: driver assessment; countermeasures; driver status; driver drowsiness; driver fatigue; driver inattention; monitoring systems; warning systems; prolonged driving; vehicle design; driver safety.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2006.010178

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2006 Vol.42 No.1/2, pp.67 - 86

Published online: 08 Jul 2006 *

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