Blue Lights To Reset Internal Clocks

holy_calamity writes "Researchers at RPI are testing the effects of putting blue LEDs inside cars to keep drivers alert. People driving through the night are much more likely to cause accidents because our circadian rhythms just want to sleep — blue light at around 450nm wavelength can fool them into thinking it's morning and keep them awake."

Comments

Is this really the answer?

[TibbonZero]

Yes, I know there are times that we've all had to drive with less sleep than we should have... but is this a good answer?
To me it would seem to inspire false confidence on the part of the driver, where they might think that they could stay up and not have to worry about falling asleep driving since they had their blue lights blinking or whatever.

I'm thinking that the real solution is making people in the public more aware of the dangers of driving with too little sleep. Everyone knows they shouldn't drink and drive (yet many still do) but not enough people realize how dangerous driving when tired is.

Most of all, i hope they don't put these in 18-wheelers are another way to squeeze yet more driving time out of the guys.

Re:Is this really the answer?

[anagama]

So? Some activities make driving safer, some make it more dangerous. Nobody is disputing that driving is dangerous. Driving while intoxicated is more dangerous than driving while sober. Driving while talking on a cell is more dangerous than driving while paying attention. Driving while tired is more dangerous than driving while alert. Everyone understands the danger vs. utility aspect of driving. But there is no reason to exacerbate the danger.

As for blue lights in the car, I think it's potentially a bad idea. Blue light makes it hard to see in the dark. Red light doesn't affect night vision so much. Besides, I F*#$ing sick of all the blue lights gratuitously stuck all over the place -- like in the front of an otherwise nice quality DVD player. I'm sick of having to tape over blue lights or prop up DVD covers to right this idiocy about bright blue light.

And as for drivers with those ultra-blue blinding lights, I want to build an auto-tracking fully automatic BB gun (everyone knows driving is dangerous -- anyone remember Deathtrack from the bad old DOS days? loved that game).

Re:Is this really the answer?

[Vskye]

Most of all, i hope they don't put these in 18-wheelers are another way to squeeze yet more driving time out of the guys.

First off, your comment deems that you have never driven a 18-wheeler, Most company's back in the day taught you how to cheat on your log books so you can drive more than 500 miles a day. The first day I was hired, they taught me all of this. They push your ass to drive, and if you don't produce they fire your ass. Some good companies are not this way, granted... but to generalize this isn't a good thing. Ever drive 10 hours, then have to unload a 48' trailer by hand and then pick up a load and get sleep? It's a PITA, and that's why I don't do it anymore. And no, I've never crashed my truck.

Re:Is this really the answer?

[EvanED]

Most traffic accidents are caused by sober drivers.

Most drivers are sober. You should look at the rate of accidents of drunk and sober drivers; I have a suspicion of what you would find.

The only problem...

[Zadaz]

The only problem is that blue light ruins your night vision, which would conceivably cause more accidents.

Re:Does this mean that ...

[electrictroy]

I feel awake because I get 9 hours sleep every night.

That's the real problem in today's modern world --- people are staying up too late & not getting enough hours sack time. Then the lack of sleep catches up, and they nod off in the office (or worse, their car).

Re:Does this mean that ...

[plague3106]

I agree. We're not birds, you don't throw a towel over a person's head and they instantly doze off. People fall asleep behind the wheel because it's time for them to sleep.