New Apple App Designed to Reduce Fatigue-Based Auto Accidents

It seems the world of Apple's iPhone and iPad users have another app at their disposal, this one is designed to prevent them from falling asleep behind the wheel of their car.

If you become too tired when you are driving long hours in the car, you should pull over to the side of the road and take a nap or pull off the highway and grab some coffee. This new app may mean , if it works the way its developers claim, that drivers do not even need to stop and figure out if they are too fatigued to drive because the app will do that for the driver.

At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, we have been helping serious car accident victims throughout Georgia get the compensaiton they deserve for over 39 years. We have seen the growing danger from drowsy drivers who fall asleep at the wheel, and hope that this new technology can help reduce the number of Georgia auto accidents related to drowsy or fatigued driving. Our experienced Georgia auto accident attorneys are committed to obtaining the best possible results for our clients and continually striving to be regarded as the best Atlanta personal injury law firm in Georgia.

A company called ASP has developed an app called the Anti Sleep Pilot that supposedly can actually monitor a driver's fatigue level. If this conjures up pictures of someone driving down the road in their car with electrodes stuck on their temples and a big beeping machine in the passenger's seat, there is no need to worry. The app and all of its functions are easily viewed on the iPhone's screen as you drive.

How does it work? The first time the app is set up, the driver creates a baseline profile of himself by answering about 12 different questions. Some of the information that the device collects includes age, sex, how many hours a week the person works, etc. The app then helps the driver calculate fatigue status before the trip starts. During the drive, the app continually displays the driver's fatigue level using the screen of the iPhone itself.

As the person is driving, the screen displays and sounds a series of light and sound tests to break up the monotony of the drive. The driver is prompted to touch the screen at times so this helps to increase the driver’s alertness level. When the app senses that the driver is becoming overly fatigued and that an accident might be imminent, it sounds an alarm alerting the driver to take a rest break.

There is also a graphical driver fatigue dashboard that displays driving distance, average driving speed and the progression of the driver's fatigue level. The app is also integrated with Google Maps, which will constantly give the driver an overview of his or her driving range before the driver needs to take the next break.

While the app may sound odd, it may serve a valuable purpose. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are about 56,000 sleep-related car accidents annually in the U.S., which result in 40,000 injuries and 1,550 auto accident-related fatalities, and in the trucking industry 30-40 percent of tractor-trailer accidents are caused by driver sleepiness.

If it works as represented, this app might be a great application for truck drivers because driver fatigue is one of the leading causes of serious commercial trucking accidents. This device may be a way to reduce fatigue and sleep-related car accidents, but one has to wonder about the driving distraction created by the device itself. Distracted driving is also a leading cause of severe auto accidents. This device apparently requires both viewing the screen for the cues and touching the screen. These means the app poses both a visual and manual distraction so it is not entirely clear whether the decrease in fatigued driving is worth yet another driving distraction from an electronic gadget.

While the verdict may still be out on this new app, Montlick and Associates applauds companies that develop new technology designed to prevent injury and death. Since 1984 we have been representing individuals and families throughout Georgia who have suffered injuries or wrongful death in auto accidents, including with sleeping or fatigued drivers. Our experienced Georgia auto accident attorneys are available to assist clients throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. No matter where you are located, we are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.