In the fast-paced and perilous world of road transportation, driver safety is paramount. The importance of this is underscored by the National Truck Accident Research Centre’s Major Incident Investigation Report 2024, which revealed a 27 per cent increase in overall incident rates in 2023 compared to the previous year.
Incidents related to human factors rose by 42 per cent, with inattention and distraction incidents doubling any other cause and increasing by 75 per cent since 2022. Additionally, fatigue accounted for 9.5 per cent of incidents caused by human factors in 2023. These statistics highlight the critical role of Fatigue and Distraction Detection Technologies (FDDT).
To enhance safety, Seeing Machines pioneered its FDDT, Guardian, in 2008. With more than 17 billion kilometres of road data captured to date, it has played a vital role in safeguarding heavy vehicle drivers as well as feeding into the software now keeping drivers safe in over 2.2 million passenger vehicles. As the company prepares for the launch of Guardian Generation 3, it’s timely to reflect on the lessons learned.
Image: Seeing Machines
A brief history of Guardian
The first iteration of Guardian, then known as the Driver State Sensor (DSS), launched in 2008 in the off-road/mining sector. Monitoring a driver’s face using a dashboard-mounted sensor, the DSS analysed eyelid closure to detect fatigue and tracked head movements for the identification of distractions. It issued audio and vibration alerts, storing data for analysis or transmitting critical information to fleet management via an in-vehicle modem.
In 2015, Guardian Generation 1 launched for on-road heavy vehicle fleets. This version introduced a forward-facing camera and the Guardian Centre, providing 24/7 monitoring and analysis. Guardian Generation 2 followed, offering advanced technology with reduced hardware needs, along with Guardian Live, enabling fleet managers to interact with real-time data.
Over the years Guardian’s mission has remained constant: detecting fatigue and distractions to reduce accidents and get people home safely.
Five key lessons from Guardian
1. Detection accuracy
Investing in a high-quality FDDT is crucial to avoid false positives and undetected risks. With more than 20 years’ expertise in impairment detection, Seeing Machines works with brands like Mercedes Benz, General Motors, and Ford to ensure precision under all driving conditions. Guardian’s advanced computer vision algorithms, optics, and processing technologies guarantee accuracy, even in challenging situations such as varying light or when drivers wear glasses or masks.
2. The power of real-time alerts
Real-time intervention is critical for safety. While audio and visual alerts are common, haptic alerts provide tactile feedback, particularly effective in noisy environments or when a driver’s attention is elsewhere.
3. Human intervention
A 2017 study showed significant reductions in fatigue incidents when real-time feedback was provided to drivers and employers. In-cab warnings resulted in a 66 per cent reduction in fatigue events, escalating to a 94 per cent+ reduction when in-cabin alerts were enhanced by adding real-time analyst feedback direct to the operator.
4. Value of data
Comprehensive, real-time data can help businesses improve training, education, and operations. Insights gleaned can also help to identify long term trends, high risk times and more, aiding driver wellbeing and fleet safety decisions.
5. Driver adoption
When implementing FDDT, gaining driver trust is essential. Transparency, communication and taking time to educate drivers on its function and purpose builds confidence and acceptance of the technology.
The road ahead
Guardian’s legacy of safeguarding drivers continues to evolve. With global regulations increasingly mandating safety systems like FDDT, Guardian Generation 3 is ready to meet these demands.
By learning from the past and adapting to future challenges and conditions, Guardian remains a driving force in road safety, protecting lives and paving the way for safer journeys.
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Regrading the new technology….seeing these things have been out for a while now and I’ve been lucky Enough not have had one … if they are so good why is a 27% rise in accidentsin 12months … they can’t be that good then .. is it just that fact that the drivers are S##T These days and don’t give a f##k .. Can it be to much regulating by the NHVR .. I believe it is … how is all this technology been invested into the industry , but the people are getting more stupid…And that’s a fact …can someone show the % of accidents from 2000 to 2010 …I bet its bugger all … still hundreds n hundreds of kilometres of single lane highway , 50% of the trucks had 110km on the peddle , that was just standard .. everyone would mostly communicate with each other , it was a game of cat n mouse with the highway cars and the biggest thing , everyone drove , cause you had to , otherwise you where gunna be a one of the small % of drivers that did come undone….so stop the bullshit safety argument , it’s not about safety at all , not with the NHVR and all the tech companies selling this shit to these managers telling them about all the good stuff it does …please …it’s all about money .. that’s it …so my argument is , stop manufacturing and selling automatic trucks…that’s the first way to weed out the ones who have no desire to actually want to drive , actually do something about the ones who continually stuff up , and we know who.im talking about .. it’s not me being racist , if anything we as Australian are being discriminate against, , we get hammered for minor stuff (.logbook ) missing a box or date or just a simple human error ,
They put them on the roof , side, though the middle n so on … i never here about anything with them and there dealings with the courts .. just let people drive and get off everyone back about going over a 100 off a hill etc. ,, just let the true passion of truck driving come back and let it be fun again ….where all adults and we dont need to be told that we are tired ….
BANGEMON