Safety Technology for Drivers Based on Electroencephalogram Signals

Road crashes are, unquestionably, the leading cause of death worldwide. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), accident related deaths are known to be the 8th leading cause of death. Of the 56.9 million deaths worldwide in 2016, road injuries killed 1.4 million people about 74% of whom were men and boys. Road accidents kill drivers as well as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. Drunken driving, mobile phone use during driving, drowsiness, distractions, the weather, the state of the road, the condition of the vehicle and fatigue are major drivers of road accidents. Road crash injuries are projected to become the 5th foremost cause of death by 2030, unless action is taken. The 2018 WHO Global Status Report on road safety states that in 180 countries worldwide, the total number of annual road traffic deaths increased from 1.25 million to 1.35 million in one year, with vulnerable road users such as cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists accounting for more than 50% of the deaths.

Drowsy driving was reportedly found to involve 2.3% of the total fatalities (35,092) that occurred in the U.S.A in 2015. The record from developing economies also indicates a higher rate of road traffic injuries, resulting in 93% fatalities in low- and middle- income countries. Both children and adults in between the ages of 5 and 29 died as a result of road accident injuries. The reasons for these accidents include over speeding, drunken driving, distraction, unsafe road infrastructure, non-use of safety devices such as helmets and seat belts, traffic rule violations, unsafe vehicles and inadequate post-crash care.

Accidents stemming from human error can be rectified by monitoring driver behaviour appropriately while driving. Driver safety technology includes airbags as well as systems such as anti-lock braking system (ABS) and ultrasonic warning to check vehicle failure-related accidents. Road accidents are unlikely when driver behaviour can be predicted. Detecting driver states is critical, for it prevents accidents and saves lives, and is reflected in several ways, including eye blinking and closure patterns, frequent yawns, and the nature of vehicle movements.