Fatigue behind the wheel. Summary presentation Heringsdorf

Findings concerning the question: How important is driver fatigue and what can we do about it? are summed up. Fatigue behind the wheel is found to be definitely a major factor in accident causation, not only in the large countries. A lot of studies have been carried out that tried to answer the question whether fatigue, reduced arousal or increased drowsiness account for problems, i.e.whether they are related to errors and impairment in driving performance. Countermeasures are necessary, but not all “available” countermeasures are equally effective. Electronic devices that detect and perhaps also temporarily counter drowsiness are popping up in the market in large quantities, however it is difficult to judge which ones are really effective. Research is also still needed on the missing link between perceiving and realizing the signs of fatigue by the driver and taking the right consequence. Otherwise, even warnings by electronic applications would probably be ignored.