Risk of ‘drivers’ falling asleep:
AUTOMATED lorries are at risk of crashing because their drivers might fall asleep due to long periods of inactivity, the organisation responsible for overseeing the roll-out of new technology has warned.
The Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), conducted a study into how “driverless” convoys of lorries might work on Britain’s roads.
It concluded that employees may get so bored being driven by the new software that it could increase the risk of a crash.
The technology, set to be tested this year, aims to make journeys more fuel efficient by allowing a convoy of lorries to connect to each other via wireless technology and travel closer, thereby becoming more aerodynamic.
Drivers will still be present in the cabs but they will only be responsible for steering while the new software is switched on.
The Government’s own feasibility study, conducted in 2014, highlighted a number of issues, it has emerged. These included driver “underload” which can cause operators to lose concentration; poor public perception of the scheme leading to mistrust of the technology; and a platoon of lorries making it more difficult for ordinary drivers to leave or join the motorway.
The TRL worked with the Department for Transport and a number of other groups on the study into how “driverless” lorries could work. And while it concluded that the technology would be good for the UK if implemented properly, it also includes a series of warnings. It states: “Automation of the driving task can relieve drivers’ workload up to such an extent that drivers experience cognitive ‘underload’.
“[Their] performance is degraded in ‘underload’ situation due to a deteriorated attention capacity, resulting in a degraded vigilance and loss of situation awareness.
“It is particularly important to maintain drivers’ situation awareness (in the case of platooning) should drivers have to resume control of the vehicle suddenly.
“An increase in reliance on technology for safe control of the vehicle may at times reduce drivers’ workload to the extent that they
‘It is vital to maintain drivers’ awareness should they have to resume control’
may become inattentive or potentially fall asleep.”
In addition, the study warned that an “over-reliance” on new technology, which allows a lead vehicle to set the speed and destination of following trucks, could lead drivers to “fail to notice when systems fail and/or make less effective decisions in response”.
Another paper, by the Institution of Engineering and Technology, warned about the impact on other drivers using older technology.
Its research states: “In previous simulations, drivers of manual cars typically mimic driverless cars and would start driving two metres behind the car in front, which could be dangerous.”