New Equipment to Help Prevent Automotive Accidents Caused by Drowsy Driving | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, each year 100,000 crashes, 1,550 deaths, and 71,000 injuries result from drowsy driving. When polled by the National Sleep Foundation, it was admitted by 37 percent of working Americans that they have fallen asleep behind the wheel of a car.

Mercedes-Benz created new high-tech equipment to help prevent drivers from falling asleep behind the wheel and causing an accident. Their equipment has 70 different characteristics that determine if the driver is drowsy and when it suspects a problem, it outputs a warning in the form of an espresso cup with a message that says, “Time for a rest” in the instrument cluster.

As an injury lawyer who’s represented people hurt in car accidents, I applaud Mercedes-Benz for taking measures to help prevent technology such needless tragedies.
 
Here’s a video illustrating the new Mercedes-Benz drowsy driver detection system…

It’s debatable as to whether or not this new technology will help prevent drivers from falling asleep behind the wheel. Some people might ignore the warning emitted by the new system, while others may take the warning into consideration, pull over and rest or get a cup of coffee. If the technology works and is made affordable enough to not just be a luxury car gadget, it might save lives.

About the Editors: Shapiro & Appleton& Duffan personal injury law firm is based in Virginia (VA), near the NE North Carolina (NC) border and handles car,truck,railroad, and medical negligence cases and more. Our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service. Lawyers licensed in: VA, NC, SC, WV, DC, KY.