A new Artificial Intelligence detection system is being deployed to help prevent cement tanker drivers from falling asleep at the wheel.
Aggregate Industries’ Lafarge Cement business, has become the first cement manufacturer in the country to have the new technology fitted in all of its tanker fleet’s cabs.
The Driver Status Monitoring System, developed by Spillard Vehicle Safety Systems, uses a range of in-cab cameras and sensors to actively detect driver fatigue.
The intelligent algorithm helps track and detect eye movements like rapid blinking, facial features and any other signs of fatigue - triggering an alarm which continues to sound until the vehicle comes to a stop.
It can also detect a range of unsafe activity such as mobile phone use, smoking, lane deviation and not wearing a seatbelt. The blackbox system also triggers a remote alarm back at a transport base.
It's the latest addition to the cement fleet, which also includes remote access controls, emergency stop functions, collision and lane departure warnings.
The fleet of 50 strong 44-tonne bulk tankers carry cement from the Cauldon Cement Plant in Staffordshire to delivery sites across the country. The plant produces more than one million tonnes of cement annually.
