Poetential Solution For Drowsy Driving

Hi Guys, I m James from California. I m no truck driver myself, but I have been on overnight commute which I was under no condition of driving. So my team and I decided to create an electrical shocking wristband that sends a shock wave to driver's wrist when they are detected falling asleep behind the wheel. We already finished technical design of the device. Now we are collecting some feedback from drivers who may be benefit from this device.

We are a small company of college students trying to address a society's issue. Profitability isn't one of our main concern. So the retail price will probably be similar to our manufacture cost, which is around $230. $170 of it is from the two censoring devices we install to insure the accuracy of our data.

What do you guys usually do to stay awake during the long commute? Coffee or a similar device like ours?

So would you want to try same samples of our device? Why and why not?

Do you have any questions or concerns to our device in general?

Thank you

The ONLY safe solution to drowsy driving, is to find a truck stop or rest area, and go to sleep. Any type of artificial stimuli, (5hr energy, electric shock, etc. )is just a mask, and really does not lessen the risks of an accident happening.

When the brain is tired, it is tired, your electric wristbands may make the driver alert, but the brain will still be tired, and prone to errors and mistakes.

I'm curious as to what research lead you to believe that drowsy truck drivers was a societal problem that needed to be addressed?

What do you guys usually do to stay awake during the long commute?

Make sure I'm well-rested. Though that's not always possible, especially with team driving. There are a million ways you can try to force yourself to stay awake. Chewing sunflower seeds, five hour energy, cold night air, etc. But in the end the only substitute for sleep is sleep. If I'm feeling too fatigued I will pull over at the next safe area and have a nap. I will even send in a late call for the load if I have to, though that doesn't happen very often. Even a half hour nap makes a world of difference in my level of fatigue, in fact I often nap on my 30-minute break.

So would you want to try same samples of our device? Why and why not? Do you have any questions or concerns to our device in general?

I'd try it, my biggest concern would be if the level of shock is enough to actually rouse someone if they start to nod off, but not so high that it's quite painful or could potentially cause health problems (heart arrhythmia, etc.) I'd also like to know how sensitive the sensors are and what exactly the device measures to determine if you're at risk of falling asleep. Too many false alarms will make it useless as your body will eventually just ignore the shocks, and won't be of any use should you start to drowse.

Very interesting and innovative idea, though. As long as drivers understand that it's just one more safety tool and not a stand-in for good sleep, I think it could be very helpful. If it could save even one life, I'm for it.

I have mixed feelings on this. There are laws governing how much time we can drive and how much time we must rest. These laws are strict and enforced by our employers and the law. They are in place for good reason.

Sufficient rest is the number one ingredient to ensure safe driving and is the responsibility of every professional driver to maintain. Nothing can effectively replace the benefit and necessity of sleep in this business.

I know your question is well meaning, but if we are at a point where we must rely on a zapper to stun us from nodding off, WE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING. Although it sounds like a cool idea, please realize that when a truck driver gets to this point, even if they are able to stay awake they cannot safely operate and really should look for a place to park ASAP.

To the extent that this device can help us safely park when fighting the urge to sleep, maybe. But definitely not prudent as a tool for a prolonged extension of driving while in a state of compromised senses and reflexes.

Call me old fashioned, I am not one for compromising safety or taking short cuts when dead-tired.

I agree if a driver is too tired to stay awake on their own, they SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING regardless of any external stimuli designed to shock you awake. Its simply unsafe to continue driving at that point, and that goes for ANY vehicles on the road, not just truck drivers. I feel that such a device is a bad idea because it would encourage some drivers to try and use it as a crutch, relying on it to wake them up so they can keep going instead of stopping and getting some rest. And if the driver falls asleep with your device on, and the device fails to wake them or malfunctions for some reason, and said driver runs off the road or gets in an accident as a result, guess who they're going to try to sue for all the money they can get? Do you really want that kind of liability on your hands just so you can sell a product that promotes continuing to drive after it has already become unsafe to do so?

Yeah, I'm not diggin it. I'm sure you'll make a fortune selling it but the fact is, the only way you fix being tired. Now, if you really wanted to design something much more useful, design a gps system that would incorporate a driver's elogs , accurate gps and trip planning, even going as far as re route for traffic issues when possible and track weather systems. That my friend would be a game changing idea.

Gahhhhhh!!!!!! The only way you fix being tired is by sleeping.

Very bad idea all around. Imagines yourself nodding off, then suddenly being "shocked awake"....you know the first scenario I see happening with this? The driver making a bad move with the steering wheel for being stunned/surprised, sending him in the wrong lane or off road. Another scenario....heart attack. Another scenario? Relying on the shock wave to wake you up and at some point, not even noticing it anymore, rendering it useless. I wouldn't buy it, I wouldn't even want to try it. I would never want to put my life in the hands of a machine that could fail me. Sleep, as everyone else already stated, is the ONLY way to give your body rest.

The liability lawsuit after the first fatal accident involving someone wearing this thing would literally bankrupt the company. There are so many legal problems with this, not the least of which is the blatant endangerment of the public by actually encouraging drowsy driving. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it's time to go back to the drawing board.