Skip to main content

Continental concept vehicle addresses distracted driving

According to the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), an average of ten drivers in the US is killed and more than 1,100 people are injured every day as a result of accidents caused by distracted drivers. To address this ongoing concern, automotive supplier Continental has developed a concept vehicle, the driver focus vehicle, where driver assistance systems are linked to a highly versatile LED light strip to create a powerful tool against driver distraction. In its driver focus vehicle, Continental has
February 8, 2013 Read time: 3 mins
According to the 324 US Department of Transportation (USDOT), an average of ten drivers in the US is killed and more than 1,100 people are injured every day as a result of accidents caused by distracted drivers.

To address this ongoing concern, automotive supplier 260 Continental has developed a concept vehicle, the driver focus vehicle, where driver assistance systems are linked to a highly versatile LED light strip to create a powerful tool against driver distraction.

In its driver focus vehicle, Continental has integrated current advanced driver assistance active safety technology with a future interior monitoring system and visual human-machine interface (HMI) technology that provides the driver with a virtual safety-focused companion, or co-pilot, that constantly scans the vehicle's external and internal environments. Coupling these technologies works to make sure the driver's actions and attentiveness match the real time needs of the driving situation.

"The integration of surrounding and in-cabin safety technologies gives us the ability to create a very real relationship between the driver, the vehicle and the environment," said Helmut Matschi, executive board member and president of Continental's interior division. "With the driver focus vehicle technology we are for the first time able to communicate to the driver based on both the driving situation and in relation to his ability to react at this point in time. It represents the ultimate in HMI, delivering the integration of technology, information and safety systems in a way that supports and assists the driver toward a safer and more enjoyable experience."

"Human error is the single cause for about 80 per cent of traffic accidents. Among these, driver distraction is a serious issue and plays a major role. The reasons are complex and range from driver drowsiness and monotonous driving situations to increased driver stress and information overload”, said Dr Ralf Cramer, executive board member and president of the chassis and safety division of Continental. “To combat these realities, Continental utilises active safety technology to advise drivers of the dangers and assist if necessary.”

Interior safety technology in the driver focus vehicle includes:

•    An infrared driver analyser camera positioned in the vehicle's steering column which recognises a driver's facial behaviour, such as eye and head movements, that can indicate that the driver is drowsy or has his head turned away from the road in a critical situation.
•    Halo, an industry-first 360 degree in-cabin optical guidance feature that is integrated with both the interior infrared camera to assist with driver distraction and with ADAS technologies to alert the driver of critical situations.

Surrounding safety technologies include lane departure warning (LDW), adaptive cruise control (ACC) takeover and forward collision warning.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Continental eHorizon to offer real time weather information service
    April 27, 2017
    Automotive technology company Continental is working in partnership with French national weather service Météo-France on a project which will expand its electronic horizon, or eHorizon, for use as eHorizon.Weather to provide real-time weather information. Vehicles equipped with eHorizon.Weather supply exact weather information to optimise short-term forecasts and integrate real-time, location-specific weather data to alert drivers in advance of critical weather conditions. Continental is currently testing t
  • The rise and rise of robo-car
    July 23, 2019
    When it comes to driverless cars, there are many variables – but one thing is for certain: autonomous driving will have a significant impact on vehicle design, says Andreas Herrmann The transition to autonomous vehicles (AVs) means that many of the factors which have shaped automotive design for the past 130 years no longer apply. At present, the design of a car is largely determined by the anticipated direction of travel: the car’s silhouette immediately shows where the front and back are. Driverless ve
  • TomTom and Bosch SoftTec team up on ADAS
    September 30, 2014
    TomTom is to partner with Bosch to integrate its navigation technology and maps into Bosch’s advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), enabling Bosch to develop more advanced applications including intelligent cruise control, upcoming curve alerts, and jam tail warnings. Up-to-date map and navigation data is an essential component of ADAS, providing drivers with a more detailed view of the road ahead. TomTom’s smart map making technology enables Bosch to create more accurate advanced driving application
  • Missouri’s smart solution for rural road monitoring
    July 7, 2017
    David Crawford sees how Missouri is using commercially available information to rapidly improve monitoring and driver information on rural highways. Missouri is a predominantly rural state with the second largest number of farms in the country and agriculture the main occupation in 97 of its 114 counties. US statistics starkly reveal how road accidents in rural areas tend to be more serious than in urban regions and of the 32,000 US motorists killed each year, 54% die on roads in rural areas even though onl