Introducing Driver•i's Drowsy Driver Alert Feature

Driver•i's Enhanced Driver Drowsiness Alert

Driving while drowsy is a significant hazard on the road, often underestimated in road safety discussions and regulations. The impact of driving while drowsy is profound and multifaceted, affecting not only the individual behind the wheel but also the safety of passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians on the road.

Understanding Drowsy Driving

Drowsy driving occurs when a person operates a vehicle while feeling sleepy. This condition can stem from various factors, including insufficient sleep, disrupted sleep patterns, untreated sleep disorders, or the use of medications that induce drowsiness. Driver drowsiness is a key risk factor in fleet safety and prevalent on our roads today. Precise numbers from drowsy driving collisions are hard to pinpoint. However, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that between 2017 and 2021, 17.6% of fatal crashes involved a drowsy driver.

NHTSA data shows that most drowsy driving collisions occur between midnight and 6am or in the late afternoon. Additionally, driving while drowsy and driving while drunk have similar effects. According to the NSC, driving on 4 to 5 hours of sleep makes you four times more likely to crash, the same crash risk as driving with a .08 blood alcohol level. The effects of drowsy driving are alarming: it impairs attention, slows reaction time, and hampers decision-making abilities. In severe cases, it can lead to microsleeps—brief, involuntary episodes of sleep—while driving, which can have catastrophic consequences.

At Netradyne, we continue to enhance and improve our AI models and algorithms so that our customers reap the benefit from precise identification and detection of risky driving behaviors.

The enhancement made to our Driver Drowsiness alert means the data you receive is more accurate and enables both you and your drivers to focus on the relevant instances of drowsiness. The ability to detect and identify the signs of drowsiness such as head and eyelid status and movements greatly reduces the number of false positives and therefore provides a more comprehensive view into driver behavior.

Drowsy vs. Fatigue: What's the Difference?

While often used interchangeably, drowsiness and fatigue are distinct states. Drowsiness refers to the feeling of needing sleep and is typically resolved by getting adequate rest. On the other hand, fatigue is a more persistent state of weariness that is not necessarily resolved by sleep. Understanding this distinction is vital, as it can influence how we address these conditions and their impact on driving.

Who is at Risk?

Certain groups are more susceptible to drowsy driving, including young drivers, shift workers, commercial truck drivers, and individuals with untreated sleep disorders. The risk is higher during the early morning hours and late afternoon when the body's circadian rhythms naturally dip. Preventing drowsy driving requires a societal shift in attitudes towards sleep and driving. Adequate sleep, consistent sleep schedules, adjusting shift schedules to accommodate various scenarios, and addressing sleep disorders are crucial steps while for those on medication, understanding the side effects and planning accordingly is essential.

Prevention and Awareness: A Collective Responsibility

Public awareness campaigns and employer policies that encourage rest and safe driving habits can also make a significant difference. Coupled with advanced safety technology in the vehicle to help identify, manage, and avoid situations where drowsy driving is at play is critical to preventing the grave impact of driving while drowsy.

With Netradyne, drivers and safety managers are better able to identify and mitigate risk associated with the possibility of a driver falling asleep and causing an accident.

This groundbreaking analytics feature is designed to detect early to late stages of drowsy driving based on changes in eyelid movement and head posture. The high-accuracy capability of our Driver•i is enabled by superior AI edge-detection computers. This enhanced feature enables drivers to stay safe and alert on the road.

Through periodic audio alerts, this functionality provides both drivers and fleet safety managers with insight into potential risks caused by driver sleep deprivation, enabling them to take steps towards preventing accidents before they happen. For those who may need extra help staying awake or otherwise driving safely, personalized coaching from the manager can be provided as well. A fleet safety manager can review and coach drivers who consistently trigger these alerts, providing crucial context into driver behavior.

Driver•i is the superior safety system able to provide this comprehensive data and coaching tool. Driver•i dash cams offer the highest accuracy and seamlessly integrate with existing technology in the vehicle and other Netradyne features, resulting in improved efficiencies and increased performance at lower costs. With Netradyne, you get additional detailed data to inform behavior reinforcement and correction initiatives.

Netradyne continues to expand its tracking and coaching capabilities with regular improvements to the Driver•i technology. Our enhanced Driver Drowsiness feature levels-up the capability of detecting and identifying risky driving behaviors, staying fully committed to innovation and fleet safety. Contact us today or read more here if you have questions or want to learn more about our other features.