All united to measure the risks of drowsiness and distracted driving on the highway
Paris Biarritz 2018 with M6 / RTL / VINCI FOUNDATION, Garches APHP and TOUCANGO, Toucango measures 5 phases of drowsiness and 77 moments of distraction on a Paris Biarritz journey.
All brought together by the VINCI FOUNDATION, RTL / M6 journalist Christophe Bourroux took part in the game of making the round trip then return PARIS BIARRITZ by motorway equipped with two devices for measuring drowsiness and distraction of the driver, the Garches APHP measurement device based on support for the subject driver by installing an EEG / EOG electrical device to measure the level of sleep and also the level of arousal of the driver behind the wheel (sensors installed glued to the driver’s body) completed with regular questionnaires, and the device by optical sensor and TOUCANGO facial analysis.
Result, on the outward journey, during the day, conducted over the week of June, no real drowsiness phase by the experienced driver, Christophe Bourroux. BUT, TOUCANGO detected 77 moments of abnormal distractions by the movements of the head and the eyes. After discussion with Christophe, it is the use of his smartphone to put his « playlist » which would be the cause of these moments of distraction. It is therefore noted that long trips alone at the wheel are subject to boredom for the driver who seeks to stay awake by cognitive actions, sometimes prohibited by law.
The RETURN trip was planned for the night, and TOUCANGO as the EEG / EOG device of the APHP, identified 5 long phases of drowsiness at the wheel, presenting the presence of Alpha waves for the EEG / EOG and moments of dynamics of head, blinking of eyes slowed down to the presence of micro-sleeps of 1 to 9 seconds with eyes closed. After discussion with our driver Journalist guinea pig on this return journey, he felt drowsy in the morning around 5:30 am but never thought to have such long periods of drowsiness