It is only a matter of time until the holiday commercials come about where automakers will announce special offers for 2015 model year vehicles. When they come, it is reasonable to think that they will tout the newest safety advancements, including lane integrity warning systems, blind spot warnings, and automatic braking systems. All three are based on radar and tiny cameras that can scan the entire area around the vehicle so that a driver can be alerted to hazards he or she may not see.
Even if the current technologies offered appear cutting edge, General Motors is reportedly developing technology that will track a driver’s eyes so that the car can detect driver fatigue or distractions that could lead to an accident.
A recent wired.com report indicated that versions of this technology are already in use in the commercial trucking and mining industries. GM has been relatively mum about how the technology will eventually work, but the systems may include tiny tracking cameras directed by algorithms that can precisely determine whether a driver is falling asleep behind the wheel or is busy looking at Twitter updates while they should have their eyes on the road.
It remains to be seen when vehicles incorporating these new features will be offered for sale, but it is a tacit reminder of a driver’s duty to continuously watch out for hazards. Should a driver breach of this duty, and an accident ensues because of it, the driver could face significant legal consequences. Essentially, a person injured in a crash could seek money damages from the offending driver.