In the United States, several major research efforts have been directed at both determining the validity of the current hours-of-service regulations (how long a driver is allowed to be behind the wheel), and developing methods for determining if a driver is fit for duty. A companion paper describes a multi-year research project aimed at developing a single trial test for driver fatigue. This paper discusses a specific research effort aimed at correlating a Driving Simulator based driver performance test (the Truck Operator Performance System, TOPS) with driving simulator performance physiological data to determine if the TOPS is effective in identifying fatigue impaired drivers. The results of the experiments found that the TOPS measures functions of driver performance which correlate with both actual run-off-road accidents (in the simulator), and with measures of impaired driving; and that these performance decrements are a function of extended driving periods. Physiological data suggested that these driving decrements were a result of reduced driver arousal. (A)
Abstract