THE ROLE OF FATIGUE IN THE DRIVING SITUATION. A SURVEY OF LITERATURE ON PSYCHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL FACTORS

Fatigue is a contributory factor in a large number of road accidents. It has been identified as causing a marked deterioration in a number of physiological and psychological attributes directly related to the driving of a motor vehicle. Experimental work in the assessment of fatigue in the driving situation included, mostly, motor vehicle simulators. Simulation varied from 3 to 24 hours of continuous driving. These experiments included single or only a limited number of parameters and little information exists about the interaction of driving errors with psychological and with physiological changes during the onset and manifestation of fatigue. A number of factors relating to the driving environment which could interact with, enhance or deter the onset of fatigue have been identified. In the assessment of the literature and of the long distance driving problems encountered in South Africa, it is recommended that the following matters receive attention: a) An investigation of driver fatigue using a Black heavy duty vehicle driver sample; b) An assessment of the interaction, on a continuous basis, of driver errors, physiological and psychological variables; c) Establishing how long the driving task, with and without rest periods, can be performed without decrement of performance; and d)The identification of individual physiological or psychological attributes that could lead to accidents caused by fatigue. Knowledge about the circumstances in which fatigue manifests itself and the way in which it can affect the driver can lead to the introduction of preventative and precautionary measures. (E)

• Corporate Authors:

  Council for Scientific & Industrial Res S Africa

  National Institute for Personnel Research, P.O. Box 0319
  Johannesburg,   South Africa 

  National Road Safety Council

  Arcadia,   South Africa 
• Authors:
  • Nest, MD van der
• Publication Date: 1978-8

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: 43 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Driver performance; Drivers; Errors; Experiments; Fatigue (Physiological condition); Personnel performance; Physiological aspects; Prevention; Reviews; Traffic crashes
• Old TRIS Terms: Driver psychology
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00335921
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Safety Council Safety Research Info Serv
• Report/Paper Numbers: C/PERS 269, HS-031 110
• Files: HSL, TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 23 1983 12:00AM