Introducing new attention sharing distraction detection feature
When driving, attention is everything. Even brief lapses in focus can increase the risk of an incident. But distraction isn’t always obvious; especially when a driver is “attention sharing” – glancing between the road and other things like a phone, or in-cab equipment. That’s why Guardian now tracks every glance away from the road, because it all adds up.
Seeing Machines has launched a new advanced distraction detection feature called “attention sharing” in its Guardian safety solution for commercial fleets. This innovation enhances driver monitoring by measuring cumulative glances away from the road to capture subtle distractions that other systems miss.
What is attention sharing?
Attention sharing happens when a driver repeatedly glances away from the road for short periods within a set timeframe. For example, looking down at a cell phone, then back to the road, several times in quick succession. If a driver keeps looking away, even briefly, it’s harder to react if something happens – especially at high speeds.
Where traditional driver safety systems detect when someone looks away from the road for too long, attention sharing distraction detection goes further – identifying the short, frequent glances that build up to real danger. By measuring how much time drivers spend with their eyes off the road, Guardian can detect risk earlier and prompt intervention before safety is compromised.
How attention sharing detection works
- Continuous tracking – Monitors both eye gaze and head pose to precisely measure where a driver is looking.
- Detection rule – If attention is off the road for a total of 10 seconds in a rolling 30-second period, Guardian issues an alert.
- In-cab warning – Audio and visual alerts notify drivers if they are attention sharing so they can refocus on the road before safety is compromised.
- Fleet visibility – Events appear instantly in Guardian Live and can be reviewed by the company.
“Distraction isn’t always obvious,” said Paul McGlone, CEO of Seeing Machines. “While many systems can detect a driver looking down for a few seconds, this new feature goes further – it identifies the repeated, split-second glances that, when added up, can be just as dangerous. This is a world-first for commercial fleets and a game-changer for road safety, exactly what we at Seeing Machines have set out to achieve.”