Enhancing the Vigilance of Car Drivers:a Review on Fatigue Caused by the Driving Task and Possible Countermeasures

van Veen, Sigrid; Vink, Peter; Franz, Matthias; Wagner, Peer-Oliver · 2020 · Crossref

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe100364

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Summary

This review paper addresses the problem of driver fatigue, aiming to enhance driver vigilance not only for safety but also to improve well-being and create a competitive advantage for manufacturers. The authors argue that intervening early in the fatiguing process can reduce the perceived load of monotonous driving tasks. The study synthesizes existing literature on driver fatigue theories, causal factors, and potential countermeasures, establishing a theoretical framework that distinguishes between physical and cognitive fatigue. The methodology involved a comprehensive literature review using Scopus, searching for keywords related to driver fatigue, countermeasures, and vitalization between March and August 2013. The authors excluded studies focused specifically on shift work to concentrate on driving-specific factors. The review categorized fatigue into physical fatigue, resulting from static sitting and musculoskeletal stress, and cognitive fatigue, which is further divided into task-related (overload or underload) and sleep-related fatigue. The paper evaluates various countermeasures, including micro-movements, thermal stimuli, and cognitive stimulation, while also assessing current automotive features and measurement techniques. Key findings indicate that physical fatigue is primarily caused by prolonged static postures and can be mitigated through micro-movements and postural changes. Cognitive fatigue from task underload, common in monotonous driving, can be countered by providing variety in stimulation, such as secondary tasks, haptic alerts, or thermal stimuli. Specifically, local cooling (e.g., of the legs or head) and certain scents like grapefruit oil were found to activate the sympathetic nervous system, thereby increasing alertness. Sleep-related fatigue is generally considered intervention-resistant, though blue light exposure shows promise in manipulating circadian rhythms. The review also highlights that current in-car systems often focus on accident prevention rather than early fatigue mitigation and notes that micro-movements serve as a natural defense mechanism against decreasing vigilance. The significance of this work lies in its comprehensive framework for understanding and countering driver fatigue. By distinguishing between physical and cognitive causes, the paper provides specific recommendations for automotive design, such as integrating dynamic seating, thermal regulation, and varied sensory stimuli. It emphasizes the need for systems that can measure fatigue objectively (via EEG, eye movements, or heart rate) and intervene proactively. This approach shifts the focus from reactive safety measures to proactive comfort and vigilance enhancement, offering a roadmap for developing more effective fatigue countermeasure systems in future vehicles.

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Topics

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• time on task
• drowsiness
• drowsiness detection algorithms
• truck driver fatigue
• vigilance
• workload measurement

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: physiological data
• Theoretical Contribution: theory or model, conceptual framework