Drowsiness at the wheel is one of the leading causes of fatal accidents on motorways, but remains difficult to assess. For the first time, an immersive experiment conducted with the association 40 Millions d’Automobilistes has made it possible to measure its effects in concrete terms using simulation.
A unique experience on a simulator
Three volunteers from the association, Pierre Chasseray, Philippe Nozière and Jade Thiefaine, were invited to take the wheel of our simulator for six hours, in a realistic holiday departure scenario: four hours during the day, two hours at night, driving in heavy traffic, with regular breaks. Thanks to our Tobii eye-tracking technology, combined with other indicators (trajectory deviations, reaction times, braking, blinking, etc.), each behaviour was recorded and analysed with precision.
The results are edifying:
- Up to 1,739 blinks in two hours
- More than 18 minutes accumulated without looking at the road
- Tripled trajectory deviations between the beginning and end of the journey
- Altered reflexes and fragmented concentration
When technology becomes a prevention tool
This demonstration confirms a conviction that we hold at Develter: simulation allows not only to learn, but also to reveal what one does not perceive. The effects of fatigue, distraction or lack of anticipation can be objectified, measured and corrected using our tools, and allow for quantifying the dangers on the road.