Just before 2 a.m. on October 16, 2005, a truck driver cruising through western Wisconsin fell asleep at the wheel and began to drift off the road. As the driver came to, he attempted to quickly swerve back onto the road, overturning the truck in the process. Moments later, a bus carrying a high-school band slammed into the overturned rig. Five people were killed and 35 were injured in the crash.*
In response to the Wisconsin collision, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) held a meeting on September 16th, which was streamed live on the Internet. Looking to cut down on accidents related to truck driver fatigue, the board suggested that trucking companies and the government study new technologies to keep drivers alert. In reference to the Wisconsin accident, the Safety Board found that had the truck been equipped with technologies to detect fatigue, the systems might have lessened the severity of the incident. "In this tragic accident, we can clearly see how the advanced vehicle safety technologies, some of which are already fully developed and in use, could have made a big difference here," said NTSB Acting Chairman Mark V. Rosenker. "This Board is going to continue to be a strong advocate for the implementation of technologies that can actually prevent such terrible accidents from ever occurring."
One of the technologies Rosenker was referring to is a dashboard-mounted camera that tracks a driver's eye and eyelid movements could alert a driver who appears to be falling asleep. ''That can be useful since drivers are often unaware of their own fatigue,'' NTSB investigator Jana Price said. Price also discussed technology that detects when a vehicle is veering from its lane and alerts the driver with a light or an alarm. Another technology on the horizon is the use of LEDs to keep drivers awake. Researchers at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York, are testing blue LEDs that shine light at particular wavelengths to convince the brain it is morning. They believe putting these LEDS in truck cabins or around truck stops could help drivers to remain more awake and alert. Alternatively, the blue LEDs also could be built into goggles for drivers to wear before setting off (the lights take only minutes to reset the human clock).
Though incidents as catastrophic as the one in Wisconsin are not necessarily commonplace, accidents resulting from fatigued truck drivers happen with frightening regularity. The NTSB reports that tiredness is a factor in about one in eight large truck crashes, while the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has reported that nearly 30 percent of all fatal accidents involving large trucks in the US happen during the hours of darkness. Rather than relying entirely on trucking companies to regulate drivers, or the truckers themselves to stay awake by drinking coffee or popping NoDoz, why not implement new technology if it can make things safer and easier for all involved? While companies may not like the costs associated with implementing new technology, the potential benefits are too overwhelming to ignore. Hopefully, both government and trucking companies will continue to investigate and – eventually – use these new technologies to enhance trucker and pedestrian safety.
A synopsis of the NTSB's report is available at ntsb.gov.
*Note: Despite the fact that the NTSB concluded the truck driver fell asleep on the morning of the accident, he claimed he did not and was acquitted by a jury on charges of negligent homicide.
