MONITORING OPERATOR ALERTNESS

The loss of alertness or drowsiness on the roadway constitutes a significant health problem in America. Statistically, loss of alertness or drowsy driving on the highways has been identified as a contributing factor in only about 1.6% of all motor vehicle crashes per year. That 1.6% translates into about 100,000 crashes per year, including 1,500 fatalities. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) believes these occurrences to be under reported. In general, and for a number of reasons, many drowsy drivers go undetected. NHTSA has two major drowsiness-related activities. The first one is education based and involves a public information campaign on the role of fatigue in highway crashes. The second activity relates to technology. A drowsy driver technology program is underway to develop, test, and evaluate a drowsiness detection and warning system for commercial motor vehicle drivers.