Driver Monitoring Systems: What are they and what are they for?

Driver Status Monitoring Systems (DSM) are a fundamental part of the driver monitoring solutions, and are a key part of the bus security and passenger transportation. Based on a system that combines artificial intelligence with infrared cameras, and focused on the driver's face from the side or from the front, the system ensures that your driving professionals do not lose their concentration while driving.

When the system recognizes driver inattention or signs of fatigue, it emits an audible and visual signal, which alerts the driver and the system that it has detected a sign of distraction or fatigue.

What do Driver Monitoring Systems detect?

There are different factors that can distract the driver while driving, let's take a look at the most important ones:

Phone usage detection

Phone use is a frequently observed and distracting factor for drivers. Sending and receiving voice memos, writing and reading text messages, viewing videos or images, all represent elements that can take the driver's attention away from the road and can lead to an accident.

Smoking

Smoking while driving represents a risk factor. Smoking at the wheel not only causes distractions, but also renders one of the hands useless, limits vision due to smoke, and reduces the driver's level of attention. According to DGT data "Lighting a cigarette takes 4.1 seconds, which implies that, driving at 100 km/h , 113 meters are covered without full attention on the road.."

Distractions

The French insurer AXA claims that, if we are able to alert the driver 2 seconds before a collision occurs, between 80% and 90% of accidents could be avoided. The DSM system detects driver distraction when looking away from the road, even when wearing glasses.

Drowsiness

Driver fatigue represents one of the most dangerous elements, as it does not depend on voluntary acts or correctable attitudes. The system alerts the driver by means of acoustic and visual signals when it detects signs of fatigue. Taking a break after long periods of driving is key to preventing accidents. According to the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda. "after a driving period of four and a half hours, the driver must take an uninterrupted break of at least 45 minutes."

Conclusion

DSM Driver Monitoring Systems comply with all regulatory standards. Their learning capacity benefits daily from the information of thousands of vehicles, which feed their databases in real time. These systems make your drivers' job easier, add value to your fleet, help prevent accidents and, most importantly, reduce risk for your drivers and passengers.