New Car Feature Alerts Drivers When They Fall Asleep

1. theglamlife
   December 29th, 2008 at 10:09 pm

   Does it really have a cup of coffee as the symbol?

   Are you sure this wasn't sponsored by Starbucks?

   Still a good idea. Many a time I have arrived home and wondered if I secretly teleported-since I have no memory of getting there.

2. SparkS
   December 29th, 2008 at 10:25 pm

   Along a similar vein Volvo advertisements tout some available features. An alarm sounds when you are going to drive into something. Another one if you are going to hit someone while changing lanes. I call those cars "Cars for Morons That Shouldn't be on the Road!".
   One advertisement even shows some idiot doing something with an article on the passenger seat. The alarm goes off so they don't run into another car. The main idea about driving is to keep ones eyes on the road not be screwing around with something on the passenger seat. These cars are truly unbelievable!

   The Mercedes idea is a valuable one.

3. Kitten
   December 29th, 2008 at 10:45 pm

   great idea, although i'm usually inattentive when i'm driving.. which is why i don't drive unless necessary.

4. Ali S.
   December 29th, 2008 at 10:48 pm

   Egads. I think a better way to wake up the driver would be to throw said coffee in yonder lap.

5. unohav_1
   December 30th, 2008 at 12:39 am

   It would be interesting to see exactly how this works. I'd hope it wouldn't require you to hold the wheel in a particular fashion as we all hold the wheel differently. I even know ones that don't even hold the wheel at all, grasping the center part instead. Still a good idea though.

6. Idil
   December 30th, 2008 at 6:24 am

   Hmmm, I don't know... some people have very jerky and scared-like reflexes when they are woken by an alarm.. their hands on the steering wheel would probably jerk and take the car off track. But then again, it's better than sleeping I guess.

7. ted
   December 30th, 2008 at 8:20 am

   Isn't that what spouses are for?

8. xultar
   December 30th, 2008 at 9:02 am

   I'm more interested in what looks like that tailgating symbol down there on the bottom left.

   Is that for the driver of the benz who is tailgating or to warn them that they are being tailgating?

   .

9. Nicholas Dollak
   December 30th, 2008 at 12:49 pm

   I read about this being in the development phases some time ago. I think it detects if the car is drifting or weaving, or it might even incorporate an "electronic eye" that "locks onto" the driver's pupils. If the pupils vanish for longer than the duration of a blink, or seem to roll up or toward/away from each other, it triggers the alarm.

   Once I became throroughly exhausted while driving. As I approached the next rest area, I suddenly saw the cars ahead of me on the road appear to shift places abruptly, as though were watching a movie from which several consecutive frames of film had been edited out at random intervals. Later, I recall awaking safely in a parking-space at the rest area, but unable to recall entering the area or parking. Scary!

   My work schedule is still overtaxing. But since I've lost weight, I find it easier to stay alert while driving.

10. K!P
    December 30th, 2008 at 3:04 pm

    i think the tailgating symbol is either the park assist or the automatic braking cruisecontrol.

11. liphttam1
    January 1st, 2009 at 12:58 am

    A better way to stop someone from sleeping in a car is to not drive at night.

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