There is no doubt that drowsy driving causes a significant number of auto accidents and, therefore, is a serious problem on Atlanta streets. However, it has been ignored as an accident factor not just by legislators, but also by law enforcement officers who investigate auto accidents. According to a recent study by the National Sleep Foundation, as many as one in six serious or fatal car accidents is linked to drowsy driving.
Those statistics released by the National Sleep Foundation earlier this year made everyone sit up and take notice. However, as Atlanta car accident attorneys, we have been awake to the dangers of drowsy driving for years now.That’s why it was encouraging to read about new technology to prevent drowsy driving.
A new device manufactured by a Danish company acts as an automated drowsy driving test system inside your car to let you know when it’s time for you to take a break. The device is called Anti-Sleep Pilot, and it’s manufactured by Denmark-based APS Technology. The device develops a profile of the driver based on a number of questions, including whether the driver is on any medications, or whether he’s a shift-based worker. This profile is stored in the system, and when the driver is operating the vehicle, the system analyzes this data along with other information to develop a test.
The test consists of a flashing light and sound, and the driver is required to stop the sound by touching the top of the device. The device measures the amount of time the driver takes to do this, and if the driver takes too long to touch the top of the device, then the system determines that he is tired and needs a break. The system flashes a red light warning, signaling that it is time to pull over or stop driving.
This system is a little different from your typical lane departure warning systems that have become so popular these days. It’s good to see that more and more companies are taking the threat of drowsy driving seriously, and developing technologies to combat this.