Method and apparatus for the detection of driver fatigue as well as a vehicle

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for detection of fatigue at the wheel, wherein a determination of a Oberlidlinie by evaluating an eye image of a car driver in the region of the eye image with the aid of a rectangular feature template, a detection of a closed position of the eyes by means of a curvature or a are provided for the characteristic value of the curvature Oberlidlinie and a detection of driver drowsiness on the basis of a statistical evaluation of the closed position of the eyes. According to the invention the closed position of the eyes is advantageously detected at the shape of the upper eyelid, as the Oberlidlinie shows a large relative contrast and less susceptible to malfunction, in particular less dependent on the facial expressions. This increases the accuracy in detection.