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Drowsiness Detection Technology Can Prevent Car Accidents

Have you ever felt drowsy behind the wheel after a night of restless sleep? Feeling tired and fatigued while operating a motor vehicle is not uncommon considering our hectic daily lives. Driver fatigue is extremely dangerous and has resulted in many disastrous accidents. In most cases, the driver doesn’t even realize that he or she is dozing off until it’s too late. Statistics from the NHTSA show that over 56,000 accidents are caused yearly due to driver drowsiness.

Upscale brands such as Mercedes and BMW have generally included options for alertness monitoring systems for the past few years.  However, Bosch has recognized the dangers of driving while fatigued and developed a monitoring system that can be installed in any type of car. The Bosch system monitors driving patterns and uses an algorithm in order to determine if a driver is sleepy by monitoring sudden changes in steering wheel activity. The system starts working the moment the car is set in motion. When the system monitors a drowsy pattern it flashes an icon on the dashboard or prompt a noise in order to alert the driver. Bosch’s drowsiness detection will be available in the Volvo Passat Alltrack. It will be interesting to see if any other automotive companies will follow suit.

So what should you do if you feel drowsy behind the wheel and don’t have access to this cutting edge technology? The safest thing to do would be to pull over in a safe area and try to get some rest before getting back on the road. Perhaps you could take a quick cat nap in your car if you’re near a rest area. Another idea is to take a walk and get some fresh air. It’s never a good idea to drive when you are feeling drowsy since it can seriously impair your reaction time and driving skills.

Studies have also shown that drivers tend to be more alert during the day time. Thus, it’s safest to avoid driving between the hours of midnight and 6 AM. Make sure to get plenty of rest each night in order to prevent fatigue. If you’re planning in taking a long road trip, it may be a good idea to share the driving duties with others.

Automotive technology is changing for certain; high tech features such as Bluetooth Compatibility, USB ports and Navigation systems that were once only available in luxury models are turning up in more affordable cars such as the Nissan Altima Corpus Christi. It will be interesting to see what type of technology we’ll see in our cars in a few years.   

Written by JCX Stars - Looking for the latest car technology? Nissan Specials Minneapolis offers cars with top of the line safety and driver technology.


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