Drowsiness Detection in Low-Light Conditions Using YOLO and CLAHE Augmentation for Real-Time Applications

In the era of advancing technology, deep learning, particularly within the realm of computer vision, has emerged as a critical tool for enhancing human safety. This research focuses on developing a drowsiness detection system for car drivers using the YOLOv5 algorithm, aimed at mitigating the risks associated with microsleep, a temporary loss of attention that poses a significant threat on the roads. The prevalence of traffic accidents attributed to drowsy driving is alarming, with statistics indicating that over 9.5% of accidents in Indonesia during late 2019 were linked to drowsiness. To address this pressing issue, our study employs the YOLOv5 model to classify driver states into ‘Drowsy’ and ‘Awake’ categories, enhanced by the Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE) augmentation technique, which optimizes performance in low-light conditions. The drowsiness detection system is designed as a user-friendly application that provides real-time alerts to drivers upon detecting signs of drowsiness. The implementation process includes data collection, preprocessing, and model training, leading to the evaluation of the system’s accuracy. Evaluation results demonstrate a detection accuracy of 94%, with precision and recall both reaching 93%. These findings underscore the efficacy of integrating YOLO and CLAHE in developing a reliable drowsiness detection system, contributing to road safety by reducing the risk of accidents related to driver fatigue.