Driver sleepiness and individual differences in preferences for countermeasures.

Area of Science:

• Road safety
• Human factors in transportation
• Sleep science

Background:

• Driver sleepiness is a significant factor in road accidents.
• Understanding the use of countermeasures is crucial for developing effective safety strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate factors associated with the use of sleepiness countermeasures among drivers.
• To explore drivers' attitudes towards sleepiness information and driver support systems.

Main Methods:

• A national questionnaire study was conducted with a random sample of 3041 vehicle owners.
• Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors influencing countermeasure use.
• Participants were clustered based on their reported use of four countermeasure categories: alertness-enhancing activity, stopping the car, napping, and caffeine intake.

Main Results:

• The most common countermeasures included walking, turning on the radio, opening a window, drinking coffee, and engaging passengers in conversation.
• Napping was more prevalent among drivers with experience of sleep-related crashes or severe sleepiness, professional drivers, males, and those aged 46-64.
• In-car monitoring of driving performance was the most preferred method for receiving sleepiness information, particularly among those with experience of sleepy driving.

Conclusions:

• Driver sleepiness countermeasures vary widely, with simpler methods being most common.
• Specific demographic and experiential factors influence the adoption of more effective countermeasures like napping.
• Driver support systems offering real-time feedback on driving performance are favored for delivering sleepiness warnings.