During the springtime season, when more weekend drivers are on the road, dozing
at the wheel is one of perils that must be avoided. Drivers can feel drowsy with
warm sunlight filtering through the windows, especially when traveling long
distances on a freeway.
Dozing at the wheel can cause serious accidents.
When a driver dozes while traveling at 100km per hour, the uncontrolled vehicle
can go more than 100m. In a short moment, the vehicle turns into a speeding
bomb.
No matter how hard the driver tries to stay alert, it is sometimes
difficult to overcome drowsiness. Patent technologies have been steadily filed
(228 patent applications during the past 10 years) that effectively protect
lives and property from sleepy drivers.
The types of anti-drowsiness
methods filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office include the
following:
• alarms that generate noise or play exciting music when the
driver is detected to be dozing-off;
• stimulating devices that vibrate
the headrest or seat to stimulate the head and waist of the driver; and
• ventilation systems that roll down the window to force cold air
into the car to alert the driver.
Some other methods warn the driver
when the vehicle wanders out of the lane. There are even methods that flash an
emergency light, slow down the vehicle and stop it. By stopping the vehicle,
these methods send a strong warning to the driver that he or she must wake up
before driving again.
In some intelligent systems, the temperature,
humidity and oxygen level inside the vehicle are optimized to prevent
drowsiness. When dozing is detected, these systems send a warning and discharge
large amounts of oxygen and fragrance to awaken the driver.
Among these
anti-drowsiness methods, the most convenient one uses anti-drowsiness earrings.
These earrings were purchased by the Yulgok Division of the Republic of Korea
Army and are used by its drivers. The drivers wear these earrings while they
drive. When their heads tilt forward due to dozing, the earrings send a warning
message that awakens the driver.
Although recent technologies are being
developed to prevent dozing at the wheel, they cannot prevent drowsiness
fundamentally. All they can do is to alert and awaken the driver. It is
important to get sufficient sleep and rest before driving rather than depending
on these methods to keep us safe on the road.
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