All cars to be fitted with camera trackers that watch you and stop you from falling asleep by 2024
ALL cars across the country will be fitted with technology in the next five years that tracks drivers eyes to prevent them from falling asleep.
The advanced system will be installed by 2024 to help keep drivers safe behind the wheel.
Using a driver-facing camera, the technology keeps track of the percentage of time a motorists' eyes are closed.
And if they begin to become tired, an in-car alert sounds to remind them to take a break.
Some car manufacturers have already installed a similar system which reduces the speed of the car if the warning is ignored.
While other cars can perform an emergency stop if a driver doesn't respond to further cautions.
How to avoid failing asleep while behind the wheel
- Take regular breaks: Make sure to take breaks every two hours when driving on long stretches of the motorway. It's essential to rest before you feel drowsy.
- Stop for an overnight rest: You can easily break up your journey by stopping at a hotel for a few hours of sleep.
- Avoid long drives after work: Jumping behind the wheel after a long day at work may seem like a good idea, but you are likely to be very tired. Try and start your journey earlier in the day.
- Seek medical advice: If you've taken prescribed medication, ask your GP or read the instructions to see if they will affect your driving.
New rules brought in by the European Parliament would make it compulsory for the system to be introduced into newer models across Europe from May 2022, while all other motors from May 2024.
The same guidelines would then apply across the UK, under regulations by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
Government figures reveal drowsy drivers contributed to 53 deaths on UK roads in 2017, as well as 351 serious crashes.
New vehicles sold in the UK will also be fitted with a special gadget to stop people driving over the speed limit by 2022.
A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: "We continuously work with partners around the world to improve the safety standards of all vehicles.
"These interventions should deliver a step-change in road safety across Europe, including the UK, and driver awareness technologies could help save dozens of lives a year."
A shocking study earlier this year revealed drivers who doze off behind the wheel travel over 30 metres in just a second while driving at 70mph.
Microsleeps are short periods of rest, which can be experienced without you knowing they have even happened.
Although it may seem harmless, fatigue can greatly impact your reaction time and ability to control your motor.