Technology Solutions to Solve Drowsy Truck Drivers’ Trucking Accidents

Driver drowsiness and fatigue are responsible for as many as 7,500 fatal motor vehicle accidents each year in the United States, with 25 percent of those crashes involving fatalities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Drowsy driving is not a problem that is particular to truck drivers, but it tends to be a very serious issue because large, commercial trucks can cause far more damage in an accident than drivers of passenger vehicles.

New technologies hold the potential to prevent drowsy driving truck accidents

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration studies report that a person who has been awake for 24 hours straight will experience the same cognitive difficulties as those who have a blood-alcohol level of 0.10%, which exceeds the legal limit for drunk driving in most states. Sleepiness impairs driver attention, it impairs their judgement and it increases the time it takes to react to what is happening on the road.

To combat this problem, some companies and organizations are developing technologies to help make drivers more aware of potential dangers related to fatigue.

F-CAM. Forward Collision Avoidance and Mitigation uses radar and sensors to alert the driver and then apply the brakes when it senses an impending crash. These systems help avoid crashes or reduce the severity of a crash that is unavoidable.

Several highway safety groups are petitioning the NHTSA to require F-CAM systems for buses and commercial trucks over 10,000 pounds. They estimate that this crash avoidance technology might prevent more than 2,500 crashes according to NHTSA studies. Many of the new trucks are equipped with this technology, but it is only an option and is not standard equipment. Only about 3 percent of standard tractor trailers are equipped with this technology at this time.

Seeing Machines. This solution detects and prevents driver fatigue and distraction by providing real-time monitoring and intervention. It uses a dash-mounted device that uses intelligent sensory technologies that tracks the driver’s eye movements and facial patterns to detect when the driver is drowsy or distracted. The machine issues an alert sound in the cab and it causes the driver’s seat to vibrate to get the driver’s attention back on the road. The machine also sends an alert to the fleet manager.

iPal wearable technology. iPal is a pair of glasses that tracks eye movements. It has four cameras: two that track your eye movements and two that track the scene in front of you. The iPal can detect drowsiness and see distractions. It also measures eyelid openings as a way of detecting driver drowsiness. It also alerts the driver via the driver’s smart phone using a Bluetooth connection.

Drivers can also make sure that they are following the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Hours of Service rules, get enough sleep, drink coffee to stay alert, and take a nap when they feel drowsy.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident the legal team at Bailey & Greer is ready to meet with you and discuss your case. You may call 901-680-9777 today to schedule a free consultation with one of our West Tennessee truck accident lawyers in Memphis, Jackson or Nashville.