New Tech Could Help Prevent Truck Driver Fatigue
Recently introduced wearable devices can help warn drowsy drivers of impending danger.
Determining how many truck accidents are the result of driver fatigue is a notoriously difficult endeavor, as drowsiness is consistently underreported by drivers and responding police officers alike. There are, however, a number of studies that indicate the severity of this problem. One study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), for example, found that truck driver fatigue was associated with at least13% of truck accidents.
Recognizing the seriousness of this problem, a number of companies have begun designing and manufacturing products that help truck drivers recognize when they have become too fatigued to drive. Unfortunately, despite the introduction of these promising new products, truck accidents caused by driver fatigue will undoubtedly continue to occur, in which case, injured truck drivers should consider speaking with an experienced Omaha, NE truck driver workers’ compensation attorney who can help them seek compensation for their medical bills and lost wages.
Wearable Technology
Mandatory electronic logging devices that are intended to record how many hours a driver is actually on the road are currently mounted in most commercial vehicles. However, many drivers, whether due to pressure from their employers or a simple mistake, continue to drive beyond the limits indicated by these products. Fortunately, a number of tech companies have begun marketing wearable devices that can help drivers schedule longer nights for sleep and more frequent rest periods, or even alert drivers when they are on the verge of falling asleep at the wheel.
Glasses with LED Light Monitors
One company, for example, recently began marketing glasses for truck drivers that use an LED light monitor to measure the wearer’s eye blinking patterns. A device mounted on the truck and synced with the glasses provides drivers with real time measurements and alerts to help them recognize when their eyes are growing heavy and if it is necessary to pull off at the next road stop.
Wearable Headsets
Another company recently introduced a headset that, where when worn properly, can tell if a driver is looking through the windshield, downwards, or off to one side. These headsets can even record how many times a driver looks at a side or rearview mirror, an action that is typical of fully alert drivers. Headset readings can also alert drivers when they begin exhibiting head bobs or making jerking motions, both of which are signs of impending sleep.
Another device that is currently being marketed to truck drivers is intended to be worn as a headband on a hat and is specifically designed to measure brain waves and detect alertness or signs of fatigue. Alerts are then transmitted directly to the driver.
Workers’ Compensation for Injured Truck Drivers in Nebraska
If you are employed by a trucking company and were injured in an accident, feel free to reach out to the workers’ compensation legal team at Andres Law Offices, PC LLO to learn more about recovering compensation for your medical bills and lost wages. You can schedule a free consultation with us by calling our office at 402-491-4003 today.