The vibrations of the car make drivers sleepy: study

Melbourne, July 8 The natural vibrations of cars make people sleepier, affecting levels of concentration and alertness just 15 minutes after drivers get behind the wheel, according to a study.

With about 20% of fatal road accidents, researchers hope their discoveries can be used by automakers to improve car seat design in order to keep drivers awake.

The effects of physical vibration on drivers are not well understood, despite growing evidence of drowsiness. 19659003] "When you're tired, it does not take much to start nodding and we found that the soft vibrations of the car seats while driving can lull your brain and your body," he said. said Stephen Robinson, RMIT University in Australia.

"Our study shows constant low-frequency vibrations – like those we experience while driving cars and trucks – are gradually causing drowsiness even in well-rested and healthy people," Robinson said.

"After 15 minutes of driving, drowsiness has already started to settle in. In half an hour, this has a significant impact on your ability to stay focused and alert." To improve road safety We hope that future car seat designs can incorporate features that disrupt this rocking and fighting effect. The researchers tested 15 volunteers in a virtual simulator that replicates the driving experience on a monotonous highway. two-way

The simulator was installed on a platform that could be vibrated at different frequencies, with volunteers tested twice – once with vibrations at low frequencies (4-7Hz) and once without vibration .

Vibration-induced fatigue makes it psychologically and physiologically harder to perform mental tasks, so the body's nervous system activates to compensate, resulting in changes in heart rate.

Looking at the variability of heart rate (HRV) volunteers, researchers were able to obtain an objective measure of sleepiness that they experienced as the 60-minute test progressed.

Less than 15 minutes after the start of the vibration test, the volunteers showed signs of drowsiness. Within 30 minutes, drowsiness was important, requiring considerable effort to maintain alertness and cognitive performance.

Drowsiness increased gradually during the test, reaching a maximum of 60 minutes.