This paper concerns a study to investigate different strategies employed by drivers to regulate their activity level depending on their fatigue state. Subjects were required to perform driving tasks in a simulator and to complete an additional acoustic vigilance task. Fatigue conditions were further increased in one group by the administration of alcohol. Results showed that in both groups continued driving leads to a loss of attention as indicated by subjective ratings and reaction times. Drivers tried to make their task more difficult in order to prevent decrease of attention, compensating by attempts to increase speed, but this effort was countered later as greater fatigue levels were reached. For the covering abstract see ITRD E113725 (C 22328 CD-ROM).
Abstract