Self-driving cars have become more prominent as technology advances. Many major automobile companies are working on designed self-driving features for newer cars. Tesla is the most popular of these companies, and has a self-driving feature in all of its cars. The self-driving feature allows drivers to relax and take their attention away from the road and other vehicles, while the car takes control of steering and speed using it's built-in cameras to detect the lines on the road and the surrounding cars. Although this allows drivers to have a better commute and can even reduce accidents by taking away driving responsibilities from distracted drivers, there is a concern that this self-driving feature is not all its cracked up to be.
In the study, "The Sleep of Long-Haul Truck Drivers," the researchers sought to determine the effects of sleep deprivation on truck drivers' performance while driving. They studied four groups of twenty male truck drivers, and found that according to electrophysiology readings, the drivers were getting an average of 4.78 hours of sleep per day during the course of the study. The researchers looked at the frequencies of drowsiness and sleep of these drivers when they were traveling over 45mph. "Drowsiness" was determined through electrographic features and included "...slow, rolling eye movements, and electroencephalographic alpha activity," which are characteristics of stage one sleep. 7 episodes of this type of drowsiness were observed across 2 subjects. After looking at the video recordings of the drivers, the researchers found that seven percent of the video footage showed a "drowsy" driver. These results show that drivers aren't getting enough sleep that is required for staying alert on a job like this. This drowsiness and absence of alertness can increase the frequency of accidents involving truck drivers.
One of the benefits of Tesla's self-driving car is that it can help distracted and/or tired drivers from making mistakes on the road. The built in cameras detect when the car is too close to another car, and alerts the driver. When in self-driving mode, the cameras also detect the lines on the road and can make sure the car stays within these lines and away from other vehicles, without the help from the driver. In 2016, a 2015 Tesla Model S was involved in a car accident while in self-driving mode. The driver "...crashed into a tractor-trailer that was crossing the road in front of him." The Tesla's system was unable to recognize the white tractor due to the brightness of the sky, but the driver also failed to take manual control and step on the brakes. However, the National Transportation Safety Board reported that the driver ignored 7 warnings by the Tesla to put his hands on the steering wheel and that he had at least 7 seconds to see the truck and use the brakes manually. The NTSB also found that Tesla's self-driving feature did not malfunction during the crash, and that the accident was mostly due to the driver's inattention to the road. This event shows that although we have the technology to use self-driving cars, the drivers still need to be alert as if they were driving it manually. No self-driving software is perfect, and there are many unexpected situations that require the driver to take control.
Evidence from the study, "The Sleep of Long-Haul Truck Drivers," supports the argument that drivers using self-driving technology need to make sure they are as alert as if they were driving themselves. The study showed that people who don't get enough sleep, are less alert while driving. This decline in alertness leads to more accidents. If drivers in self-driving vehicles are also deprived of sleep, they will also be less alert, and will be less able to recognize when they need to take manual control. It's important for drivers who use this technology to be aware of this, and make sure that they get enough sleep so that they can properly and safely use the self-driving feature.
Mitler, Merrill M. et al. “THE SLEEP OF LONG-HAUL TRUCK DRIVERS.” The New England journal of medicine 337.11 (1997): 755–761. Print.
Boudette, Neal E., and Bill Vlasic. “Tesla Self-Driving System Faulted by Safety Agency in Crash.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 12 Sept. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/09/12/business/self-driving-cars.html.
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