Could a Sensor-Powered Seatbelt Prevent Fatigued Driving Accidents?

Technology use on the road has recently gotten a bit of a bad rap as distracted driving accidents continue to increase. However, a new piece of wearable tech could actually alert drivers as to when they are dozing off behind the wheel.

Developed by the Biomechanics Institute (IBV) in Valencia, Spain, the Heart and Respiration In-Car Embedded Non-Intrusive Sensors system works by measuring the heart rate and respiratory pace via seatbelt and seat sensors. When a person goes into a state of fatigue or drowsiness, their breathing and heart rate changes, which helps the system determine when a driver is at risk of falling asleep behind the wheel.

When the sensor data notices that the driver is falling asleep, the developers envision an alarm going off to wake the driver before they lose control.

Closed track testing on the seatbelt has been completed and the research team plans on testing the system in real world traffic conditions soon. The aim is to get the sensor-powered seatbelt into the commercial market in the near future.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 100,000 crashes each year are caused by drowsy drivers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration notes that drowsy driving is one of the most common causes of commercial motor vehicle accidents.

Many technological advancements in motor vehicles have already been made, including the introduction of accident prevention systems. However, a sensory powered seatbelt could prevent even more collisions. If taken a step further, the seatbelt could even help identify when someone is having a medical event that could cause an accident.

Watch the video below to learn more about the sensor-powered seatbelt.

Have you or someone love been injured in an auto accident caused by a fatigued driver? Have you explored what your legal options may be? The car accident attorneys at Gordon & Partners can help you determine if you may be eligible to file a claim for damages.

Call our personal injury lawyer s in West Palm Beach at 1 (855) 722-2552 or fill out the contact form on this page to learn more about how we can help you.