Researchers Advocate GPS Data to Measure Driver Fatigue

Tracking deviations in a vehicle's movement can be a better indicator of driver fatigue than monitoring the driver directly, according to Clemson University researchers.

Biometric measurements such as driver eye movements, muscle activity and changes in heart rate can be inaccurate and intrusive to a driver's actions, the researchers point out. They advocate using GPS navigation systems to precisely track a vehicle's driving path and detect drifting or other suspect movements that suggest a driver may be falling asleep or are otherwise distracted.

The Clemson study tested 20 volunteers whose attention was measured in a vehicle simulator during a 26-hour period in which they weren't allowed to sleep. Driving performance was measured for lateral lane position, lane heading and vehicle heading over a 15-mile course that included nine curves.

The volunteers weren't tested with biometric devices. But the researchers say their analysis of previous studies showed mixed results for the accuracy of such technologies. The Clemson team's findings were published in the journal Accident Analysis & Prevention.

Citing government statistics, the researchers say drowsy drivers in the U.S. are five times more likely than alert drivers to be involved in an accident or a near-crash incident. Drowsy or fatigued drivers are responsible for an estimated 56,000 crashes annually with more than 40,000 of them resulting in injuries and fatalities, according to the Clemson study.