Mental Load and Fatigue

This chapter discusses two important issues relating to driving. The first concept is mental load. Mental load is a central concept to understand driving performance: if drivers experience high mental load, driving performance may deteriorate and safety may be jeopardised. On the other hand, if drivers experience low mental load, they may become inattentive or drowsy, and again safety may be jeopardised. In this chapter, we consider the concept of mental load, look at the relation between mental load and psychological stress, and look at how mental load can be measured. The second important concept is fatigue. Main insights concerning fatigue are summarised, and its effects on driving. Also, we look at methods for detecting fatigue, how drivers may cope with fatigue and how systems may be developed that support drivers in coping with fatigue.