Tesla introduces Driver Drowsiness Warning System

Tesla’s new Driver Drowsiness Warning system uses a cabin-facing camera to detect signs of drowsy driving and encourage safer habits.

Tesla has launched a Driver Drowsiness Warning system aimed at enhancing road safety by detecting and alerting drivers who may be drowsy. While drowsy driving is a common issue, Tesla’s approach utilizes a cabin-facing camera to monitor specific signs of driver fatigue, including yawns and drowsy blinking patterns.

Although driver drowsiness detection technology is not new in the automotive industry, Tesla’s system adds a unique twist. It utilizes the interior camera to directly observe the driver’s behavior. When signs of drowsiness are identified, the system triggers an alert on the dashboard, which remains in place until the driver appears more alert. The alert encourages the driver to take a break or rest.

It’s worth noting that drivers have the option to disable this feature by navigating through the Controls menu. However, this deactivation is not permanent, as the system will re-engage at the beginning of the next driving session.

The system won’t activate when the car is in Autopilot or Full Self-Driving mode. Additionally, it requires the vehicle to be driven at speeds exceeding 40 mph (65 km/h) for at least 10 minutes before becoming active. Interestingly, the drowsy driving alert will turn off if the vehicle’s speed falls below this threshold.

This isn’t Tesla’s first use of in-car cameras for driver monitoring. Since 2021, the company has employed these cameras to identify distracted driving behaviors such as looking away from the road or holding a mobile device. When such behavior is detected, an alert prompts the driver to refocus on driving safely.