Drivers' misjudgement of vigilance state during prolonged monotonous daytime driving.
To investigate the effects of monotonous daytime driving on vigilance state and particularly the ability to judge this state, a real road driving study was conducted. To objectively assess vigilance state, performance (auditory reaction time) and physiological measures (EEG: alpha spindle rate, P3 amplitude; ECG: heart rate) were recorded continuously. Drivers judged sleepiness, attention to the driving task and monotony retrospectively every 20 min. Results showed that prolonged daytime driving under monotonous conditions leads to a continuous reduction in vigilance. Towards the end of the drive, drivers reported a subjectively improved vigilance state, which was contrary to the continued decrease in vigilance as indicated by all performance and physiological measures. These findings indicate a lack of self-assessment abilities after approximately 3h of continuous monotonous daytime driving.
Schmidt
Eike A
EA
Daimler AG, Research and Development, HPC H602, Leibnizstr. 2, D-71032 Böblingen, Germany. eikeandreas.schmidt@uni-duesseldorf.de
Schrauf
Michael
M
Simon
Michael
M
Fritzsche
Martin
M
Buchner
Axel
A
Kincses
Wilhelm E
WE
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001336:Automobiles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003071:Cognition; D003657:Decision Making; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D011930:Reaction Time; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014851:Wakefulness