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Countermeasures to driver sleepiness
Boekbijdrage - Hoofdstuk
The substantial role of sleepiness in traffic accident statistics, as outlined in previous chapters, stresses the necessity of investigating thoroughly the countermeasures to driver sleepiness.
Sleepiness is a rather new concern for traffic safety that has only been recognized as such since the early nineties. With the exception of some sporadic papers on this issue in the early seventies, the consequences of and countermeasures to driver sleepiness have only been an important topic in scientific literature since the widely cited paper of Gold and colleagues (1992) on sleepiness and driving in nurses (Gold et al., 1992).
This is in large contrast with other traffic safety issues where driver factors are the key factor, such as drunk driving, another major cause of vehicle accidents, where scientific reports can be traced back as early as to the late fifties (Loomis & West, 1958). Unsurprisingly, many challenges are still to be coped with in the struggle against sleepiness related traffic accidents.
Today's countermeasures for drowsiness related traffic accidents rely firstly on the primary prevention of excessive sleepiness in drivers. Also, driver-induced acute countermeasures, such as drinking caffeine, have been studied. These measures can be applied after the detection of excessive sleepiness or of performance decrements, either by the driver or by in-car detection systems. Finally, some adaptations in traffic infrastructure, such as the installation of rumble strips, have been proposed.
In this chapter we will first review the use of countermeasures by drivers in practice. Which countermeasures do drowsy drivers rely on? The remainder, largest part of the chapter will focus on the efficiency of these measures to prevent or restore significant driving performance decrements in sleepy drivers. Here, we will examine the applicability of the different countermeasures for different populations at risk for sleepy driving, in combination with their efficiency. As has become clear in the previous chapters, the population of drowsy drivers is divers, ranging from patients with sleep disorders to healthy drivers suffering from self-induced sleep debt. Obviously, the efficiency and applicability of countermeasures will depend on the type of sleepiness encountered. Also, it important to investigate which drivers are most likely to engage in countermeasures that are low in efficiency. In this way, vulnerable groups can be detected and the efficiency of countermeasures can be optimised.
Sleepiness is a rather new concern for traffic safety that has only been recognized as such since the early nineties. With the exception of some sporadic papers on this issue in the early seventies, the consequences of and countermeasures to driver sleepiness have only been an important topic in scientific literature since the widely cited paper of Gold and colleagues (1992) on sleepiness and driving in nurses (Gold et al., 1992).
This is in large contrast with other traffic safety issues where driver factors are the key factor, such as drunk driving, another major cause of vehicle accidents, where scientific reports can be traced back as early as to the late fifties (Loomis & West, 1958). Unsurprisingly, many challenges are still to be coped with in the struggle against sleepiness related traffic accidents.
Today's countermeasures for drowsiness related traffic accidents rely firstly on the primary prevention of excessive sleepiness in drivers. Also, driver-induced acute countermeasures, such as drinking caffeine, have been studied. These measures can be applied after the detection of excessive sleepiness or of performance decrements, either by the driver or by in-car detection systems. Finally, some adaptations in traffic infrastructure, such as the installation of rumble strips, have been proposed.
In this chapter we will first review the use of countermeasures by drivers in practice. Which countermeasures do drowsy drivers rely on? The remainder, largest part of the chapter will focus on the efficiency of these measures to prevent or restore significant driving performance decrements in sleepy drivers. Here, we will examine the applicability of the different countermeasures for different populations at risk for sleepy driving, in combination with their efficiency. As has become clear in the previous chapters, the population of drowsy drivers is divers, ranging from patients with sleep disorders to healthy drivers suffering from self-induced sleep debt. Obviously, the efficiency and applicability of countermeasures will depend on the type of sleepiness encountered. Also, it important to investigate which drivers are most likely to engage in countermeasures that are low in efficiency. In this way, vulnerable groups can be detected and the efficiency of countermeasures can be optimised.
Boek: Sleep, Sleepiness & Traffic Safety
Pagina's: 199-225
Aantal pagina's: 27
ISBN:978-1-61728-943-9
Jaar van publicatie:2010
Trefwoorden:sleepiness, driving, traffic safety, countermeasures