Abstract: A system and method for detecting driver drowsiness in an automotive vehicle employs means for detecting changes in steering direction of a steering wheel on the basis of steering pulses, each steering pulse being produced whenever the steering wheel is rotated through a predetermined angle, and determines that the vehicle driver is drowsy when the number of steering pulses within a fixed interval of time exceeds a first reference value and the number of steering reversals within the fixed interval of time is below a second preset reference value.