Volvo’s Driver Alert Control: A Take-Down on Distracted and Tired Driving

Having found just about every way to protect a passenger in a crash (for now), Volvo has moved on to some new technologies designed to prevent crashes from happening in the first place. The so-called science of active safety has now evolved from everyday features like ABS and brakeforce distribution to features like the Volvo BLIS blindspot warning system.

Volvo has already targeted distracted driving with some clever features, such as its Bluetooth capable phone system that won’t ring if you’re engaged in spirited driving or accident avoidance. If you’re not paying attention and your S80 or new XC70/V70 is equipped with Adaptive Cruise Control with Collision Warning and Brake Support, it will politely warn you with a loud beep and a flashing light that you’re about to hit something. Failing that, the system will also apply the brakes to help lessen the collision. Smart, no?

For the Frankfurt motor show, Volvo will be showing off yet another new innovative safety system that’s in the realm of active safety called Driver Alert Control. You’ve probably driven while being tired, and startling new research shows that driving while tired is just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. Volvo’s latest system is to help drivers recognize when they’re tired and to encourage them to pull over and take a break.

Not too long ago we ran a feature displaying Nissan’s anti-drunk driving technology that uses facial recognition cameras to detect intoxication via blinking patterns. The Volvo system doesn’t rely on people, as behavior varies from person to person; instead it uses cameras that detect the car’s relative position on the road, to road markings that are analyzed by sensors. This gives Volvo’s system the ability to not only scan for tiredness, but also distractedness from other passengers or if the driver is talking on a cellphone.

If the car detects that a driver is too tired or distracted via their road behavior, it will display a picture of a coffee cup and a warning to take a break from driving. It’s not just a one-time warning either; as the journey progresses, the system can track the consistency of the driver over a five-bar progress. As the driver gets more distracted, the number of bars diminishes.

Also new to the Volvo safety roster is a lane departure warning system, which uses the camera featured in the Driver Alert Control system. The lane departure warning system works at speeds above 40 mph, and stays on at speeds of over 37 mph. These systems aren’t exactly new to the industry; Nissan, Cadillac and BMW all offer something similar in their product lineups, but it’s nice to know that in yet another way, Volvo is looking out for the safety of those who drive and ride in their cars, and those traveling next to them.