The invention provides an apparatus and method for detecting a driver status. The apparatus for detecting a driver status may include an information acquisition unit (10) acquiring driver's vehicle driving information, driver's vehicle operation information, and driver status information, a calculation unit (20) calculating a driving load indicated by converting a factor obstructing safe driving into a numerical value, based on the information acquired by the information acquisition unit (10), a determination unit (30) determining the driving load calculated by the calculation unit (20) and comparing the driving load with a preset load margin, and a warning unit (40) warning the driver when the determination unit (30) determines that the calculated driving load exceeds the preset load margin. The apparatus and method for detecting a driver status determine whether a driver is driving safely by knowing mental and physical states of the driver, and guide, if determining that the driver is not in a safe driving state, the diver to drive safely by displaying warning, giving warning sound, reminding the driver by vibration, forcibly controlling the vehicle or other methods so as to protect the driver.