This project is being funded by the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC)

The aim of the project

To investigate and ascertain the effectiveness of emerging driver monitoring technology in reducing the incidence of driver distraction, inattention and fatigue episodes within the HV industry.

This proposal requests funding support for a pilot initiative to trial the use of this technology within (say) five transport operator companies on a maximum of fifty drivers over the space of twelve months.

Proposed technology

There are now a number of technology devices available to the heavy vehicle industry, developed with the aim of identifying and reducing the impact of driver fatigue.

In order to keep this pilot project to a manageable scale, it is proposed to trial one such technological system.  In doing so, it is anticipated that any findings and conclusions would have equal applicability to other comparable technology.

One of the leading providers of fatigue-detection technology in Australia, Seeing Machines have developed a system called Guardian. Guardian is an intelligent driver safety solution that uses in-cab sensors to monitor in real time the driver’s levels of fatigue and distraction.

Face- and gaze-tracking algorithms measure the driver’s head position and eye closure and, when safety parameters are exceeded, audio alarms and seat vibration are immediately activated. Guardian also features a forward-facing camera which captures critical information about road conditions at the time of the event.