Eye test could help police catch fatigued drivers

A ground-breaking research trial between VicRoads and Monash University is currently perfecting a camera test that would be able to scan the pupils of a driver to detect tiredness.

Currently, around 20 percent of crashes in Victoria are caused by fatiuge and it is believed that this new technology could decrease that number significantly.

This technology would in-turn allow police to pull over people driving erratically and test them for tiredness, much like they already do for alcohol and drugs.

Roadside tests for drugs and alcohol have helped take impaired drivers off our roads – we want to see if a roadside fatigue test could have similar results and help keep all road users safe,” said Roger Chao, VicRoads director of road user and vehicle access.

What do you think? Is this a positive step to improve safety on the roads or just another police revenue raiser?

7 comments

 

Quote...What do you think? Is this a positive step to improve safety on the roads or just another police revenue raiser?

In my opinion..if it raises revenue, so be it. However..I think it is certainly a positive step and I welcome it. I also think it should be extended to people who have eye diseases like advanced Glaucoma and Macular Degeneration.

There are many Glaucoma sufferers using the road who shouldn't be and I am hoping pressure will be put on doctors to recommend they hang up their ignition keys..

 

 

The majority of people suffering eye defects such as glaucoma and macula degeneration would be under the care of an ophthamologist who would recommend removal of a patient’s licence if driver safety is an issue.

 

 

Unless a patient is in the really advanced stages of glaucoma..opthamologists do not generally recommend they give up driving. Instead they send a report to the GP..

It is the GP's job to look at the medical history of that patient coupled with their glaucoma problems and then decide whether they must give up driving..

GPs are very lax about doing this at present..and this needs to be changed..


I remember many years ago we were invited to a friend's place for a lovely lunch. They lived 200ks away. All went well and when it was time to drive home, I did the driving as Hubby had a few drinks. All was going well for the first 100 ks. I looked at my Hubby and he was sound asleep. The further I drove I could feel myself drifting now and then, I had the window wide open and kept the radio on full blast. Eventually I had to pull over, get out of the car and walk around for a few minutes. Luckily there was a little shop nearby and I bought myself a  bottle of cold  water. Hubby woke up wanting to know "Are we were there yet"??  We were almost into the abyss.

There needs to be a lot more places to pull over and have a rest along our roads. The road between Sydney and Newcastle has vey few stops especially if you are towing a van. 

I don't need to be tested to know I have fatigue, preventing it is the best option. Eating fruit instead of sweets will give you an energy lift not a blood glucose drop.

Just as Labor wanted to tax the air we breathe with their carbon tax, how in God's name have we come to this. Will we actually be booked for not having enough sleep? Unlike a breath test and the proper breath analysis (or blood test) which is done for suspected drink driving, what will be the definitive test to go before the courts to substantiate the charge?

With the traffic gridlocks you could start fresh and fail the eye/fatigue test before exiting the freeway.  

This is much easier than getting those frequent lane changers and tailgaters.  

Where police are already failing to properly enforce present rules, what purpose is served by yet another random test van holding up traffic, annoying the public and yes, raising revenue for big-spending governments.

Being tired whilst driving is a huge concern. I'm guilty of it because most people just want to get where they are going and are endangering themselves as well as other so it would be very refreshing if just for once they pulled people over with the only intent to make people aware and make them stop for a wake me up or a sleep whichever they needed and no penalty was given. How about we just do something nice for people for once instead of always looking at revenue. What a much lovlier way to keep people alive if that's what they are concerned about.  

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