Can This Car Camera Tell You If You’re Distracted?

New technology developers are constantly pushing the envelope to create programs and applications which in many cases may make life easier and safer for us on a variety of levels. San Diego-based startup Netradyne has a new entry into the world of driver safety – the Driveri system. It helps you become a better driver through real-time monitoring of how you drive, then gives feedback, both immediate and later, from a review. The system uses Artificial Intelligence and synchronized multiple video cameras to teach drivers how to best respond to situations they encounter on the road. Netradyne has been working with fleets of commercial drivers, such as over-the-road truckers and school bus transportation providers. It tracks driving and behavior in real-time and gives in-the-moment advice for dangerous or careless behavior. Now the company and others are excited by the prospect of Driveri being incorporated into all drivers’ everyday lives. The device includes four hi-def cameras which deliver a 360-degree view of both the road and the driver’s facial responses to driving situations as they occur. Facial recognition tools not only help with driver “log-ins” to the system, but are also “synced” with various road events and used for driver feedback and training. Feedback about how the subject drives, their reaction patterns and little things like how often drivers check their phone while behind the wheel, or don’t completely stop when they should, are stored, synced, and – if necessary – immediately relayed to the driver. The entire trip, including actual video of any trip, is included with driver responses so the information can be reviewed later. Companies can even use Netradyne’s own driver score program to evaluate and track employee drivers, or program the app to use their own standards. But how does it work in private vehicles like your SUV or pickup?  Rather well, according to one automotive writer who recently toured San Francisco in a demo Chrysler with Driveri installed. The writer found that the system was “not too invasive” when advising the driver in real time of his less-than-stellar behavior during the half-hour tour. He was warned about “distracted driving” when he looked too long at his side mirror. And Driveri’s voice was a bit remonstrative about “hard acceleration” for a jackrabbit start or two. An audible beep sounded when he braked too hard while approaching a stopped car. But overall, the system did its job well, and pointed out a few “not-to-worry-too-much” shortcomings during the post-drive debrief. The obvious – and immediate – new use for Driveri could be for ride-share companies, and then, everyday motorists. The cameras can provide reassurance to ride-share passengers that the trip is being recorded and can be reviewed if necessary. Privacy concerns of passengers are mitigated through a feature in the recorded video that blurs out anyone in the vehicle other than the driver. New (teenaged) drivers could be a perfect match for the system. A Liberty Mutual Insurance study released around the end of July 2018 found that of 2,000 surveyed teens and 1,000 parents with teenaged licensed drivers, almost four of every 10 parents admit to speeding while driving. Around 30 percent of surveyed teens said they speed. Drowsy driving and multitasking had similar self-reported rates for both parents and teens: high 20s for parents, low 20s for teens. Smartphone app usage while driving was also high for both driver groups: 37 percent of parents and 38 percent for teens. So the executives at Netradyne could make a strong case that maybe some sort of behavioral “buffer” between teen drivers – such as Driveri – and some of the more lax parents who practice wrong driving behavior might not be such a bad idea. If you’ve been injured by a distracted driver, contact Billy Johnson to schedule a free consultation and learn more about your legal options.