New research delivers guide for using fatigue-detection devices in vehicles

The research, conducted under the AAA’s Road Safety Research Program, examined a range of fatigue-detection technologies (FDTs) that are available in new cars or can be fitted to vehicles after purchase.

Researchers from Monash University, Central Queensland University and the Institute for Breathing and Sleep found the most effective technologies were those that monitored drivers’ eye movement, are based on scientific sleepiness scales, and sounded alarms early enough to alert drivers to take action. Inexpensive, pre-drive technologies that address fitness to drive are also effective.

Technologies designed to detect when a car is drifting into the wrong lane were not good indicators of fatigue, and devices measuring a driver’s heartbeat through steering wheel sensors were not very effective because they rely on drivers keeping both hands on the wheel at all times.

Drowsy driving contributes to about 30 per cent of motor vehicle crashes and a fifth of fatal crashes.

Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission has found that one in three Australians say they have driven while quite tired and one in five have driven while so tired they struggled to keep eyes open.

AAA Managing Director Michael Bradley said the research was developed in response to industry consultation.

“Fleet and safety managers told the AAA that lack of information on emerging technologies was a major barrier to uptake,” he said.

“That’s why Australia’s motoring clubs invested $1.2 million via the Road Safety Research Program to produce practical resources that will drive uptake of these technologies and deliver real road safety improvements.”

The researchers worked with fleet managers and drivers from Telstra, Martins Haulage and Hazeldene’s Chicken to assess various technologies in a closed track environment and in real-world conditions.

The research has delivered a practical guidebook for fleet managers. This guide can help individual motorists but will be especially useful to fleet managers who must balance business efficiency with keeping their employees safe on the roads.

The AAA hopes this will help them understand available fatigue-detection technologies; how their organisations can use FDT; and best-practice steps for adopting FDT and embedding it in their operations.

The AAA’s Fatigue Detection Technology for Fleets Guide is free and can be downloaded here.

The AAA established the Road Safety Research Program in 2019 on behalf of its member motoring clubs, which have a collective membership of 9.3 million Australians.

The program uses a competitive selection process to select universities and other organisations to conduct independent research into areas that can reduce deaths and injuries on Australian roads, which have been steadily rising over the past few years.

The RSRP collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders who are working to address critical road safety issues.

Projects are fully funded by the AAA’s member clubs, which have invested $4.5 million across the first six projects.

This fatigued driving technology project is the program’s first research output. Projects in the pipeline examine other road safety issues – including how best to train drivers to manage their fatigue, and the extent to which modern cars’ touchscreens distract drivers from keeping their eyes on the road.

“This program creates partnerships with universities and industry and funds cutting-edge research into emerging or under-examined road safety issues,” Mr Bradley said.

“Australia’s motoring clubs are determined to invest in serious original research that could move the dial on emerging and intractable road safety issues.”

The global motoring organisation – Federation Internationale de l’Automobile – has shortlisted the fatigued driving research project as a finalist in its 2024 President’s Award for Road Safety.

For more information on the Road Safety Research Program, see this webpage.