The steering wheel buzz to wake up dozy drivers

DRIVERS who begin to nod off at the wheel could one day be woken up by a vibrating steering wheel.

British experts at ARM Holdings in Cambridge, who have developed the technology, say the device could save lives.

It uses cameras installed on the rear-view mirror to monitor drivers’ expressions, their eye alignment and head position, as well as tracking how often they blink.

If the cameras detect that the driver is drifting off or losing focus behind the wheel, an alarm will sound or the seat and steering wheel will vibrate to alert them.

The system is designed to prevent crashes in the moments when a driver has taken their eyes off the road to change a radio channel or look at a satellite navigation system, or is overwhelmed with tiredness.

Some modern cars already have sensors that can measure the distance between cars, or detect when a vehicle has drifted out of a lane, in order to prevent accidents.

ARM’s device, which is still a few years away from readiness, is different because it monitors the driver rather than the car.

Experts blame a growing reliance on in-car gadgets, such as hands-free phones and GPS devices, on a 4 per cent increase in road deaths and serious injuries in the past year.

Richard York, vice-president of ARM, said the new technology is needed as distraction or fatigue are the main causes of accidents.

He added: ‘The evidence is that almost all accidents are caused by drivers not paying attention. Electronics can play a big role in looking into the vehicle to keep an eye on the driver.’