Pilot Test of Fatigue Management Technologies

Abstract

This study involved over-the-road testing of four fatigue management technologies (FMTs) in trucking operations in Canada and the United States. Technologies bundled into a single intervention came from four fatigue management domains: one providing objective information on driver sleep need, one providing objective information on driver drowsiness, one providing objective information on lane tracking performance, and one reducing the work involved in controlling vehicle stability while driving. The objective was to determine driver reactions to such technologies and whether FMT feedback would improve alertness, especially during night driving, or increase sleep time on workdays or nonworkdays. A within-subjects crossover design was used to compare the effects of FMT feedback to no feedback. Each driver underwent the conditions in the same order: 2 weeks of no feedback (control) followed by 2 weeks of FMT feedback (intervention). Data from the devices and other driving performance variables were recorded ...