Analyzing Driver Drowsiness: From Causes to Effects

Sónia Soares, Tiago Monteiro, António Lobo, António Couto, Liliana Cunha and Sara Ferreira
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Sónia Soares: Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, Research Centre for Territory, Transports and Environment, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Tiago Monteiro: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Porto, Center for Psychology at University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
António Lobo: Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, Research Centre for Territory, Transports and Environment, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
António Couto: Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, Research Centre for Territory, Transports and Environment, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Liliana Cunha: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Porto, Center for Psychology at University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
Sara Ferreira: Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, Research Centre for Territory, Transports and Environment, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 5, 1-12

Abstract: Drowsiness and fatigue are major safety issues that cannot be measured directly. Their measurements are sustained on indirect parameters such as the effects on driving performance, changes in physiological states, and subjective measures. We divided this study into two distinct lines. First, we wanted to find if any driver’s physiological characteristic, habit, or recent event could interfere with the results. Second, we aimed to analyze the effects of subjective sleepiness on driving behavior. On driving simulator experiments, the driver information and driving performance were collected, and responses to the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) were compared with these parameters. The results showed that drowsiness increases when the driver has suffered a recent stress situation, has taken medication, or has slept fewer hours. An increasing driving time is also a strong factor in drowsiness development. On the other hand, robustness, smoking habits, being older, and being a man were revealed to be factors that make the participant less prone to getting drowsy. From another point of view, the speed and lane departures increased with the sleepiness feeling. Subjective drowsiness has a great correlation to drivers’ personal aspects and the driving behavior. In addition, the KSS shows a great potential to be used as a predictor of drowsiness.

Keywords: road safety; drowsiness; driver behavior; driving simulation; Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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