Dr Ashleigh Filtness

Biography

Dr Ashleigh Filtness is a Research Fellow specialising in driver sleepiness and impaired driving, with a particular interest in using simulators in road safety research. Ashleigh was awarded her PhD from Loughborough University, UK in 2011 for her thesis entitled Obstructive sleep apnoea and daytime driver sleepiness. Ashleigh used a driving simulator in her research to demonstrate the increased vulnerability of obstructive sleep apnoea patients driving performance to sleep restriction, and impairment of their driving performance following one night of treatment withdrawal.  The results from her PhD have been published in peer reviewed journals and presented both nationally and internationally.  For her work in this area, Ashleigh was recognised as the British Sleep Societies Young Sleep Researcher of the Year - 2009. Following the completion of her PhD, Ashleigh moved to Australia where she worked at Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) for two years.  Whilst at MUARC, Ashleigh worked on a variety of road safety research projects funded by both industry and competitive grant schemes.  She gained experience in a range of research methodologies including extending her knowledge of driving simulators and developed expertise in various road safety topics, including: distraction, situation awareness, alcohol impairment with motorcycle riders, police in-vehicle safety, the management of heavy vehicle drivers working hours, and driver behaviour at level crossings.  Now at CARRS-Q, Ashleigh is currently working on a range of projects investigating  driving impairment.  Further, she is pursuing her interest in driving simulators through on going empirical investigations and leading CARRS-Q's Driving Simulator Interest Group.