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Distracted driving has been a problem that lawmakers throughout the U.S. have been grappling with on an ongoing basis. Fort Myers personal injury attorneys, like Randall Spivey have seen how accidents caused by distracted drivers have changed the lives of not only the accident victims, but also their families.  That said, one automaker intends to help with the effort to lessen the possibility of accidents occurring because of distracted drivers by making changes to its next generation of automobiles.

According to a recent Time article, General Motors plans to install eye and head tracking sensors that will track a driver's head and eye movements and alert the individual if there are prolonged periods of distraction.

GM's Plans

During the past year, General Motors has faced a lot of bad press with respect to the recall of millions of its motor vehicles for a variety of reasons. The automaker is hopeful its new line of automobiles, equipped with head and eye tracking technology, will be successful in helping to curb distracted driving accidents throughout the country.

The Time article notes the effort will be a collaboration between GM, Seeing Machines (a tracking device maker) and Takata (a manufacturer of safety devices). Apparently, GM is negotiating an agreement that will allow them to receive a half million tracking devices for its vehicles over the next three to five years.

What Will the Device Do?

The Seeing Machines tracking devices will reportedly be able to analyze a driver's facial features and identify signs of distracted driving. For example, the device will be able to track the frequency of the driver's eye blinks, which can then be placed onto a three-dimensional map of the vehicle's interior to figure out what the driver is looking at. If the device determines that the driver is not viewing the roadway or focused on driving, it will emit an alert to the driver that could ultimately help the driver avoid a potential collision.

It is said that the device will not only sense distracted driving, but it will likely help to prevent its occurrence. Eventually, the device can be adapted to allow drivers to activate certain apps simply by viewing a particular area of the vehicle and hitting a button on the steering wheel.

Tips from Fort Myers Personal Injury Attorneys

There are a number of ways that drivers can deal with some of the more common distractions. For instance, drivers are encouraged to either turn off their cell phones or place them in silent mode prior to getting in the vehicle. Additionally, the driver should place it in a location that cannot be easily reached.

Drivers are also encouraged to know their state laws with respect to cell phone usage and texting. If you have questions about distracted driving or if you have sustained injuries caused by a distracted driver, contact the Fort Myers personal injury attorneys at the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. today.