Your Next Car Could Tell You When You’re Not Paying Attention
Since fully autonomous vehicles are still many years away from infiltrating the auto market, automakers are developing technology that will allow vehicles to determine if its human driver is paying attention to the road.
Distracted driving is a growing and deadly problem. According to Distraction.gov, 3,197 people were killed and 431,000 were injured in 2014 due to distracted driving. Thousands of people are dying every year due to drivers not paying attention behind the wheel. This technology could help save lives. Toyota, General Motors and Volkswagen have already started testing some of these systems, and it’s rumored that the technology will be available in two models next year.
Delphi Automotive has created the technology which will use cameras and software to track driver’s eyes and head movements. Since one of the most common distractions is cell phones, tracking a driver’s eye movement will help identify when a driver has become too distracted to drive. The systems will then alert the driver through vibrations or sound to let them know they need to re-focus their attention on the road. The system will work the same for drivers who may get drowsy behind the wheel as it will track their level of alertness. The radar will be able to recognize sagging eyelids, wrinkling of the temples, and squinting.
For drivers who are worried about their privacy or their distracted driving habits being shared, automakers have said that the information will not be released without their consent or a court request. More than likely, it will still be a long battle between automakers, technologist, consumers and industry government officials.
If these technologies are developed correctly, they have the potential to save thousands of lives.
If you or someone you know has been injured in an auto accident due to distracted driving, contact our law offices today for a free consultation.