Inattentive Driving Monitors and New Vehicle Technology

There is no excuse for inattentive driving.

Zip. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

Not because your phone rang, not because you needed to respond to a quick text, not because your child was screaming in the back seat, not because you just had to check yourself in the mirror before an appointment, not because your coffee fix wore off and you’re tired.

When you engage in distracted driving or drowsy driving, your behavior is dangerous to yourself and everyone else on the road. End of story. 

There’s new technology that helps protect you from yourself—that’s right, vehicle systems with driver monitoring systems (DMS) are designed to alert a driver if their attention drifts from the task of driving. Some even have safety features to counteract the driver’s inattentiveness if it happens.

How do driver monitoring systems work?

A driver monitoring system uses cameras, sensors and other technology to determine a driver’s attentiveness. These technologies capture data like the driver’s head position, eye movement and facial expressions, determining how alert and aware the driver is at that time. 

If the system detects that the driver is not attentive to the road, the driver will be alerted by audible sounds, visuals, or vibration. This allows the driver to correct their behavior and re-focus on driving.

How reliable are driver monitoring systems?

AAA conducted a study that investigated several types of driver monitoring, including driver-facing infrared cameras and without driver-facing cameras. 

The study evaluated the DMS’ ability to detect driver disengagement by collecting data on when their hands were removed from the steering wheel and when their heads or gaze directed away from the road. 

The cameras could detect things like when the driver’s gaze was directed toward the bottom of the steering wheel while their head was facing up toward the road, and when the gaze was directed toward the lower center console with their head facing down and to the right. Markers at the bottom of the steering wheel and the center console were the focal points for the researchers.

The tests were performed under both daytime and nighttime conditions and while driving on a highway at approximately 63 miles per hour. Tests were also performed to determine whether a driver can bypass or circumvent detection of distraction.

A direct monitoring system uses a driver-facing camera to detect driver distraction or disengagement. An indirect system relies on steering wheel input to detect the same behaviors.

Results of AAA monitoring study

The study found that a direct DMS is more effective than indirect at mitigating various types of driver disengagement. These systems issued alerts faster and persistently, and indirect monitoring fell short. However, both direct and indirect monitoring systems had some failures when drivers attempted to circumvent them. 

The researchers recommended that automakers continue to refine the direct DMS functionality to minimize distraction as much as possible. However, direct DMS performed better than indirect DMS and should be more widely used.

Are driver monitoring systems worth it?

There is a difference between driver inattention and driver distraction. 

Inattention is being preoccupied by your own thoughts. Distraction is any external activity that takes your eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, and mind off the task of driving. 

If you believe you’re prone to inattention or distraction, or if you’re likely to become drowsy while driving, a system that can intervene if you “drift” might save your life or someone else’s. This could be valuable to drivers who are elderly or have certain psychological or medical conditions that could cause these types of issues. 

However, the evidence consistently shows that engaging in a distracting activity while driving significantly increases your risk of an accident. This includes anything from texting, to eating, to using in-car technology, to being lost in thought or daydreaming. 

There is one compelling reason why a driver monitoring system could be beneficial:

Data show that drivers who know they are being monitored tend to drive more safely than those who are not. These drivers have a 22% lower risk of driving violations and they tend to modify their behavior only because they’re aware that they are being observed. This, alone, can help reduce the likelihood of an accident.

Only you can determine what vehicle safety features are most beneficial for your lifestyle and circumstances. But only you can control your level of distraction, too. Every driver has a responsibility to drive safely, avoid distraction and inattention, and adhere to their duty to every other road user.