Fitzharris Michael, Liu Sara, Stephens Amanda N, Lenné Michael G
a Accident Research Centre , Monash University , Melbourne , Australia.
b Seeing Machines Ltd , Canberra , Australia.
Traffic Inj Prev. 2017 May 29;18(sup1):S71-S78. doi: 10.1080/15389588.2017.1306855. Epub 2017 Mar 21.
Real-time driver monitoring systems represent a solution to address key behavioral risks as they occur, particularly distraction and fatigue. The efficacy of these systems in real-world settings is largely unknown. This article has three objectives: (1) to document the incidence and duration of fatigue in real-world commercial truck-driving operations, (2) to determine the reduction, if any, in the incidence of fatigue episodes associated with providing feedback, and (3) to tease apart the relative contribution of in-cab warnings from 24/7 monitoring and feedback to employers.
Data collected from a commercially available in-vehicle camera-based driver monitoring system installed in a commercial truck fleet operating in Australia were analyzed. The real-time driver monitoring system makes continuous assessments of driver drowsiness based on eyelid position and other factors. Data were collected in a baseline period where no feedback was provided to drivers. Real-time feedback to drivers then occurred via in-cab auditory and haptic warnings, which were further enhanced by direct feedback by company management when fatigue events were detected by external 24/7 monitors. Fatigue incidence rates and their timing of occurrence across the three time periods were compared.
Relative to no feedback being provided to drivers when fatigue events were detected, in-cab warnings resulted in a 66% reduction in fatigue events, with a 95% reduction achieved by the real-time provision of direct feedback in addition to in-cab warnings (p < 0.01). With feedback, fatigue events were shorter in duration a d occurred later in the trip, and fewer drivers had more than one verified fatigue event per trip.
That the provision of feedback to the company on driver fatigue events in real time provides greater benefit than feedback to the driver alone has implications for companies seeking to mitigate risks associated with fatigue. Having fewer fatigue events is likely a reflection of the device itself and the accompanying safety culture of the company in terms of how the information is used. Data were analysed on a per-truck trip basis, and the findings are indicative of fatigue events in a large-scale commercial transport fleet. Future research ought to account for individual driver performance, which was not possible with the available data in this retrospective analysis. Evidence that real-time driver monitoring feedback is effective in reducing fatigue events is invaluable in the development of fleet safety policies, and of future national policy and vehicle safety regulations. Implications for automotive driver monitoring are discussed.
实时驾驶员监测系统是一种在关键行为风险发生时加以应对的解决方案，尤其是分心和疲劳问题。这些系统在现实环境中的有效性很大程度上尚不清楚。本文有三个目标：（1）记录现实世界商业卡车驾驶操作中疲劳的发生率和持续时间；（2）确定提供反馈后疲劳发作的发生率是否有所降低；（3）区分驾驶室警告、全天候监测以及向雇主反馈各自的相对贡献。
对安装在澳大利亚运营的商业卡车车队中的市售基于车内摄像头的驾驶员监测系统收集的数据进行分析。该实时驾驶员监测系统基于眼睑位置和其他因素对驾驶员嗜睡情况进行持续评估。在不向驾驶员提供反馈的基线期收集数据。然后通过驾驶室听觉和触觉警告向驾驶员提供实时反馈，当外部全天候监测器检测到疲劳事件时，公司管理层的直接反馈会进一步强化这些警告。比较了三个时间段内疲劳发生率及其发生时间。
与检测到疲劳事件时不向驾驶员提供反馈相比，驾驶室警告使疲劳事件减少了66%，除驾驶室警告外实时提供直接反馈则使疲劳事件减少了95%（p < 0.01）。有了反馈后，疲劳事件的持续时间缩短，且在行程后期发生，每次行程中有多于一次经证实的疲劳事件的驾驶员也减少了。
向公司实时反馈驾驶员疲劳事件比仅向驾驶员反馈能带来更大益处，这对寻求减轻与疲劳相关风险的公司具有启示意义。疲劳事件减少可能反映了设备本身以及公司在信息使用方面所伴随的安全文化。数据是按每趟卡车行程进行分析的，研究结果表明了大规模商业运输车队中的疲劳事件情况。未来研究应考虑个体驾驶员表现，而在此次回顾性分析中利用现有数据无法做到这一点。实时驾驶员监测反馈在减少疲劳事件方面有效的证据，对于制定车队安全政策以及未来国家政策和车辆安全法规具有重要价值。文中还讨论了对汽车驾驶员监测的启示。
