The driver alert system uses advanced technology and sophisticated algorithms to analyse driver performance and issues a warning if the driver shows signs of drowsiness or erratic steering.
"Driver fatigue is a serious problem that can affect anyone," said Ford engineer Margareta Nieh who helped develop the system.
"When drivers become drowsy they tend to drift off line as they lose concentration and then do sudden corrective steering. We’ve developed a driver alert system that picks up on these erratic driving movements by detecting sideways yaw."
The system comprises a small forward-facing camera connected to an on-board computer. The camera is mounted on the back of the rear-view mirror and is trained to identify lane markings on both sides of the vehicle.
When the vehicle is on the move, the computer looks at the road ahead and predicts where the car should be positioned relative to the lane markings. It then measures where the vehicle actually is and if the difference is significant, the system issues a warning.
"Let’s imagine the driver is tired, his or her concentration level starts to drop and the vehicle starts to drift from side-to-side," Nieh said. "The software will detect a change in the vehicle’s behaviour, triggering a two-stage warning process".
First a soft warning will pop up in the instrument cluster as a text message and will stay there for 10 seconds with an accompanying chime.
If the driver continues to demonstrate drowsy behaviour, a hard warning will appear in the instrument cluster which the driver must acknowledge by pressing an "OK" button.
"If the driver fails to acknowledge the hard warning, the system can only be reset by stopping the car and opening the driver’s door," Nieh said. "This is how the system recognises that the driver has changed or that you have had a rest and can continue".
Although the camera looks for lane markings on both sides of the road, it will also function if markings on just one side are detected. The system can be switched off via the instrument cluster.
"The technology has been programmed to recognise intentional lane changes so it won’t issue a warning whenever you overtake, for example," Nieh said.
Driver alert is available as part of the optional driver assistance pack offered on Ford Mondeo, S-MAX and Galaxy models and was recently introduced on the all-new Ford Focus.
Ford warns that the most likely times for sleep-related crashes are:
- On long journeys with monotonous roads such as motorways
- Between 02:00 and 06:00 and between 14:00 and 16:00 (especially after eating)
- After having less sleep than normal
- If taking medicines that cause drowsiness
- On journeys home after night shifts.
