Experts who analyze the causes of fatal traffic accidents have detected that there is one day of the week that is blacker than the rest. It is about Sunday and, specifically, after two in the afternoon. That day accumulates 22% of fatalities in Catalonia, but the figures are similar in the rest of the country. What happens to us on Sundays? The technicians agree in pointing out the drowsiness that occurs after eating. In summer, binge eating is frequent and is combined with alcohol intake. Concerned about this matter, the Directorate General for Traffic has just published a report revealing an increase in fatal accidents caused by sleepiness while driving.
The report recommends breaks and even naps of no more than 20 minutes, which appear to be the most restorative. However, the driver is not always aware of the state of drowsiness or fatigue in which he finds himself. And this is where technology comes into play. According to the aforementioned study, one of the solutions proposed is the incorporation of drowsiness detectors in vehicles, which really influence the decision of drivers when it comes to continuing driving or resting.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the United States has experimented with this technology in real situations. With the help of artificial intelligence, micro cameras are used inside the vehicle that track the driver’s eye, the position of the steering wheel, the blinking speed and the position of the driving lane. When drowsiness is detected, warnings to stop to rest or have a coffee are activated. Drivers who experienced this technology prevented their vehicles from having to run off the road. Precisely, the exit from the road caused two of the last three fatal accidents on Sunday and Monday in Catalonia.
Now that cars look like computers on wheels, it wouldn’t hurt if they also incorporated these assistants for drivers who forget common sense. And while this novelty arrives from America, be careful even if it is not Sunday.
