Acceptability of technology that detects fatigue while driving

Abstract

Background: Fatigue is one of the main reasons for road accidents. New technologies that can detect fatigue while driving have emerged, yet public acceptance is unclear. The present work examined degree of public acceptance of fatigue-detecting technologies for lay and professional drivers and examined predictors to acceptance. Methods: Participants were 200 drivers who filled an online questionnaire tapping acceptance of the technology for lay and professional drivers as the dependent variable. Predictors were attitudes towards technology, perceived efficacy of technology, risk perception of fatigue in driving as well as demographic variables of age, gender and education. Design was cross-sectional. Findings: Acceptability of fatigue-detecting technology was significantly higher for professional drivers (92%) than for lay drivers (60% who responded "acceptable" and "highly acceptable"). Predictors of acceptability were different for professional and lay drivers; perceived risk was the strongest predictor for professional drivers and attitudes towards technology was the strongest predictor for lay drivers. Women and younger drivers were more accepting of the fatigue-detecting technologies. Discussion: Public acceptance for the fatigue-detecting technologies is high, especially for professional drivers. These results even pave the way for legislating such technologies among professional drivers and carrying awareness campaigns for adoption among lay drivers. The difference in acceptability of fatigue-detecting while driving is attributed to more severe consequences of accidents in the case of professional drivers (number of riders, size of vehicle).