The eyes have it for driver fatigue

NEW pupil scanning technology has been used to detect tired drivers’ level of distraction in an Australianfirst trial.

It comes as Victorians are urged to think twice before getting behind the wheel when drowsy, or to take a break if they feel tired on the roads.

Drivers travelling on just three hours’ sleep have been found to be 10 times more likely to be involved in a crash.

Data will soon be analysed from the state government trial detecting drowsy drivers to better understand the role fatigue plays in road trauma.

Supported by Road Safety Victoria and the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), the trial kept participants awake for up to 32 hours before a twohour drive on a controlled track, supervised by a qualified instructor in a dual-controlled vehicle.

They then took three further driving tests — after three hours’ and five hours’ sleep in a 24-hour period, and again after eight hours’ sleep.

Drivers were tested before and after their drive with a scanner that measures involuntary movement of their pupils — which has shown strong links to increased levels of sleep deprivation, leading to less focused and more distracted drivers.

The study also collected a range of behavioural, physiological and driver performance data, such as brain electrical activity, lane deviations, speed variations and changes in reaction times to show the effects of excessive fatigue on a driver.

As part of the state government’s $850,000 investment in this new technology, results of the study will be analysed to inform how the trial could be implemented in real-world settings.

Current figures show fatigued drivers are involved in up to 20 per cent of crashes and 11 per cent of fatalities on Victorian roads.