In 2024, close to 20,000 road fatalities occurred across Europe. Europe’s long-term road safety goal, ‘Vision Zero’ aims to have zero fatalities in road transport by 2050. Technological advances, including connectivity and automation, present new opportunities to reduce the role of human errors. The role of fatigue in human errors on our roads, remains a critical safety challenge across the transport sector. One of the most devastating examples was the 2016 Croydon tram crash, where driver fatigue was identified as a probable cause for the deaths of 7 people. This tragedy underscored the need for a proactive fatigue management system that could identify and mitigate risks before they lead to accidents.

In response, IHF Digital has developed BaselineNC, an innovative wearable fatigue monitoring system designed to enhance safety in safety critical transport operations. As part of the Baseline NC project in 2025, the device will be being piloted in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Debrecen, Hungary. The project, aims at enhancing public transport safety and improving working conditions for staff, involves key partners including Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh Trams, and DKV Debreceni Közlekedési Zrt.

Driver fatigue as a workplace hazard

Fatigue-related incidents are prevalent in transport sectors due to long shifts, monotonous driving environments, and irregular work schedules. Fatigue can significantly impair cognitive and motor functions, leading to reduced situational awareness, slower reaction times, and increased human error. Globally, fatigue has been linked to 10–20% of road crashes and up to 50% of commercial vehicle accidents.

Traditional fatigue management strategies have relied on self-reporting and observational methods, which are subjective and can be inconsistent. Current technologies, such as in-cab cameras and biometrics, offer some monitoring but lack predictive capabilities and are often intrusive. The transport industry requires an unobtrusive, real-time monitoring solution that can predict fatigue and alert operators before it becomes a safety risk.

Predictive alert system with wearable technology

BaselineNC is a real-time fatigue monitoring system designed as a lightweight wrist-worn device, with an accompanying hub that can be placed in a workplace or vehicle cabin. The system continuously tracks physiological indicators such as heart rate variability, electrodermal activity, movement patterns, and oxygen saturation to detect signs of fatigue.

The device uses machine learning to analyse biometric data and predict fatigue levels before they become critical. With an accuracy rate of 98%, the system uses a “traffic light” alert system, sending wireless data updates every minute to supervisors in the control centres on the status of the driver as being either fatigued (red), approaching fatigue (amber) or not fatigued (green), enabling timely intervention. When a driver reaches critical fatigue levels, they can be asked to take a break or be substituted.

Scottish and Hungarian drivers taking the lead as part of pilots

As part of the BaselineNC project, two pilots will be conducted across two major transport networks, involving between 50-70 drivers/operators. In Edinburgh, the project will pilot the integration of the system into tram operations to assess its real-world applicability and effectiveness. While in Debrecen, piloting will take place across trams, buses, and trolleybuses, providing valuable data on how the system functions across different modes of public transport. Additionally, these pilots will test the system operationally, working to humanise the implementation against key metrics such as user adoption and acceptance.

What’s next? Moving forward

The Baseline NC project aims to enhance public transport safety by reducing the likelihood of fatigue-related accidents, helping transport operators manage fatigue effectively leading to better job performance and reduced stress, and minimising service disruptions caused by fatigue-related incidents. While initially focused on light rail and urban transport, BaselineNC has potential applications across aviation, logistics, and other safety-critical industries.

BaselineNC represents a significant advancement in predictive fatigue monitoring, setting a new standard for workplace safety in the transport sector. By proactively addressing fatigue, this technology has the potential to prevent accidents, save lives, and enhance the resilience of urban mobility networks.

Baseline NC project partners

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