The new ambient lighting technology has developed in the hope of triggering mental responses that enhance alertness even in drowsy drivers, enabling more attention to be focused on the road ahead. Rather than using alarms that detect head position and sound when the driver begins to nod off, the new technology surrounds the driver in blue light, which is believed to stimulate the brain into enhanced alertness.

Keeping the brain awake to keep the roads safe
Not just any blue light will do, however. Scientists at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the United States have conducted a study that indicates a specific wavelength of blue light interacts with the visual system to improve attentiveness and help stave off sleep. It’s believed that the blue light, at a wavelength found in natural sunlight, interacts with the body’s autonomic nervous system, effectively tricking the brain into believing it’s daytime, preventing the release of sleep-inducing hormones.

By keeping the brain and body functioning as if it were daytime, the hope is that drivers will remain more attentive at night. Driving at night is far more likely to result in a fatality than driving during the day. According to the Australian Transportation Safety Bureau’s database, 1,481 fatal crashes in Australia Between January 1 and September 30, 2007 occurred in the seven hours between 10pm and 5am. In comparison, the remaining 17 hours of the day, from 5am to 10pm, saw 1,165 fatal crashes throughout the country over the same time period - despite the greatly reduced traffic volume at night.

Developing practical applications
Just as a specific wavelength of blue light is required to trigger the alertness-enhancing function, so too must its application be specific if it is to achieve the desired results. Scientists are working to develop ways to introduce sufficient blue light into the cabin without compromising night vision and without inducing other side effects.

For example, it’s not currently known if the blue-light effect will result in an enduring state of wakefulness or merely triggers a brief period of greater attention followed by a ‘crash’ into even greater fatigue. At the other end of the spectrum, regular exposure to blue light late at night can effectively reprogram the driver’s body clock, delaying or even preventing sleep once returning home. Both concerns are significant obstacles that must be overcome before the system can be put into real-world use.

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