A joint endeavour between Ford and a Sao Paulo-based creative agency has taken a large leap forward in brainwave monitoring technology.
They have developed headwear of the classic ‘trucker hat’ style fitted with an array of sensors, an accelerometer and a gyroscope to monitor attentiveness and head movements.
The SafeCap aims to save lives by preventing drivers of large vehicles falling asleep or into a state of inattentiveness. It comes at a time when falling asleep at the wheel is real concern.
When technology in the hat recognises the driver is dozing or falling asleep, a combination of sound, light and vibration is used to jolt the driver awake. Hopefully, after this wake-up call, the driver will recognise they are too tired and pull over for a break.
There are five stages of sleep making up the electroencephalogram, each giving off a different variant of brainwave. Each brainwave represents a different speed of oscillating electrical voltages within the brain, almost like a signature. Stage One emits Theta brainwaves – running at four to seven cycles per second – the presence of such brainwaves informs the SafeCap that the wearer is drifting into the first stage of sleep.
There is also a kinetic aspect to the SafeCap. The developers conducted a great deal of research into head movements associated with tiredness and compared them with the movements of driving, such as checking mirrors. By fitting software of all the movements, the SafeCap can distinguish between the two forms of head movement and when the wearer is drifting off.
Ford is exceptionally proud of this technology. President of Ford South America, Lyle Watters, described it as ‘another example of our commitment to utilising technology in our vehicles and in broader driving culture to make life easier and safer.’ Such comments suggest this is not the only technological step that Ford will be taking.
The project is not finished, but Ford hopes that by talking about SafeCap, it will be able to find innovative partners to refine the product and ultimately bring it to market.
Fatalities and injuries caused when drivers fall asleep at the wheel are tragic and avoidable. The Regulatory Team at Backhouse Jones often deal with cases in which dozing drivers have caused damage, injury or death.
There is no hiding from the fact that, in law, falling asleep at the wheel is considered a serious criminal offence.
The evidence in such cases often excludes any other sensible explanation, except that the driver has either fallen asleep at the wheel or has become that inattentive that they have failed to see the approaching hazard.
Where a driver is found to have lost consciousness due to falling asleep, they will find themselves facing a charge of careless driving as a starting point. The circumstances of each case may differ, and this charge could well escalate to causing death by dangerous driving, an offence that carries a jail sentence of 14 years.
Naturally, if your business does not have the luxury of a magic cap that wakes your drivers up, and you find yourself in a situation where one of your drivers has caused such damage, then contact Backhouse Jones.
