RAC’s world first attention-powered car.
Camera IconRAC’s world first attention-powered car. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Drivers pay attention

Staff ReporterSouthern Gazette

According to the RAC, WA has the worst road safety record of any Australian state, with the number of deaths on WA roads each year consistently above the national fatality average since 2006.

For the car to work, the driver wears an Emotiv EEG neuro headset that transmits their brain activity to the car engine and, using software, slows the vehicle down when the driver’s attention level drops, alerting them to their lapse in concentration.

RAC executive general manager Pat Walker said inattention was a factor in 46 per cent of fatal crashes and was now comparable to the number of deaths and serious injuries caused by speed and drink-driving.

‘Over the past 20 years, WA has gone from best in class to worst in class. If WA’s fatality rate came down to the national rate, more than 45 lives would be saved each year,’ Mr Walker said.

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Mr Walker said the attention-powered car would help people understand the importance of paying attention and what factors distracted them while driving.

‘As well as learning more about how we think and react in a vehicle, we hope this initiative will help West Australian drivers acknowledge the fact that we often don’t pay enough attention behind the wheel in the way we should,’ he said.

Visit www.ForTheBetter.com.au to watch a series of webisodes about the car.