New technology continues to be developed and added to vehicles to make them safer and more reliable. One of the newest technologies being included in many new models is distracted driver systems. If you’re not familiar with these systems or haven’t seen what they do, read on for a look at one of the most innovative and impressive safety features in modern vehicles.
What is distracted driving?
The definition of distracted driving is anytime you take your eyes off the road, your hands off the steering wheel, and allow your mind to lose focus. This situation is often associated with texting while driving. But it can also include eating, drinking, talking on a phone, changing a radio station, or many other actions that move your focus from driving. You can even have your hands on the wheel and your face turned to the road but not be paying attention to what’s happening around you.
Assistance with your driving
Most models sold today include some kind of technology to assist with driving. Features such as lane departure warning lets you know when you’re moving in the wrong direction and steers you back into place. This system works by noticing when the vehicle crosses the lane marker without the driver signaling. It assumes the action wasn’t intentional and steers the vehicle back over the line.
Another driver assist technology is road sign assist. Labeled by different names according to brand, this feature reads road signs and posts the information onto your driver display. It can read speed limit signs, yield signs, and more, depending on the specific system.
Forward collision warning monitors traffic ahead and sends an alert of a potential crash situation. If the driver fails to take action quickly enough, the brakes are automatically engaged.
While these systems help the driver if they aren’t quick enough to respond, other systems provide a fuller range of safety checks to make sure the driver is paying attention.
Distracted Driver Systems
Not all manufacturers have integrated this system into their vehicles, but more of them are recognizing the value. Distracted driver systems are the next phase in driverless driving. Those manufacturers that have developed and added the systems to their vehicles have a wide range of options for you to learn about.
For example, Subaru offers the DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System. This system works with other systems to determine if the driver is becoming sleepy or distracted. It sends an alert to get your attention.
In Hyundai vehicles, it’s called Driver Attention Warning. This system monitors driving patterns to determine if the driver is getting sleepy or losing focus. If it notes an issue, the system sends an alert with a message on the instrument panel to get your attention.
One of the more advanced systems is Driver Attention Alert from Mazda. This system begins working once the vehicle reaches 65 km/h. It records the habits of the driver and the movement of the vehicle. If those movements change and indicate a distracted river, the system will sound a chime. Followed by a display warning to suggest a stop.
Honda offers its version as the Driver Attention Monitor. This feature works by measuring the steering changes performed to keep the vehicle in its lane. If the system senses over-correction, it sends an alert for the driver to take a break. If the level of attention decreases further, the system will send both a visual and audio alert along with vibrating the steering wheel.
While these distracted driver systems don’t take over the steering or stop the vehicle, they do work to make the driver aware of the issue. The next time you shop for a vehicle, you might want to include this feature in your must-have list.