Doze No More: Life-Saving Devices for Drowsy Drivers  

Even with the best of intentions, drivers who are out for a long drive or drive without enough sleep end up dozing off behind the wheels, especially when there’s no passenger to keep them company and awake. That’s why there are now smart phone app developers design apps that help drivers stay awake while on the road. Here are some of the popular ones in the market.

1. Anti Drowse – Anti Drowse is a free iPhone application that makes noises every now and then to keep a driver awake. Simply enter the time you start driving, hit start, and it will create noises at certain intervals. So basically, it functions like an alarm clock.

2. Anti-Sleep Pilot – Anti-Sleep Pilot is a device that affixes to the car’s dashboard with a magnetic mount. It measures two inches in diameter and offers the following features: high precision clock, to measure driving time; accelerometer, to monitor car movements; touch sensor, to ensure safety and ease of use of the device while driving; sound sensor, to automatically adjust the volume to suit the noise level inside the automobile; and intelligent power button, to automatically on/off the device for better battery life.

3. Somnoalert – Using sensors and GPS information, Somnoalert can distinguish whether the driver is sleepy or not. In case of driving irregularities, the smart phone application activates an alarm to heighten driver’s alertness level. The creators of the app ensures that there will be no false alarms as Somnoalert detects irregularities based on the car’s overtakes, change of lanes, and how it drives along road curvatures.

4. NoNap – NoNap is an inexpensive device that’s especially designed for drivers to prevent them dozing off. This device fits perfectly on the left ear like a Bluetooth earpiece for answering calls. To use, simply turn on the unit; and if your head nods a couple in a sleepy manner, an alarm will sound to alert you and your passengers of your current situation.

5. Vigo – Like NoNap, it is also an earpiece but doubles as a Bluetooth device that can receive incoming calls. This, however, is longer in length to allow an infrared sensor, located at the tip of the device, to monitor the user’s blinking rate, duration, and patterns.

It analyzes the data and creates algorithms to determine the alertness of the driver. You can choose from three different options how you want Vigo to nudge you awake: with a flashing red LED light to your eye from the tip of the device, by sending a signal to vibrate your phone, or by playing a pumped up music.

Driving while feeling tired and sleepy is among the major reasons of road and car accidents. So whether you have these devices or not, make sure to get enough sleep and rest before embarking on long hours of drive.