Hong Kong buses soon to be equipped with anti-drowsiness systems – and a range of other eye-opening safety measures

System is designed to detect a driver’s level of alertness through facial recognition software – and emits a warning if the driver dozes off.

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An anti-drowsiness device on the dashboard of a KMB bus at the Kowloon Bay depot.Photo: Winson Wong

Published: 7:22pm, 27 Apr 2019Updated: 7:22pm, 27 Apr 2019

Buses installed with anti-drowsiness systems for drivers could soon be on the road, with the city’s biggest bus operator announcing that testing was nearly finished for the new safety measure.

The city’s largest bus company, Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB), said on Saturday that tests of anti-drowsiness devices on 16 buses were in the final stage. The system was designed to detect a driver’s level of alertness through facial recognition software – and emits a warning if the driver dozes off.

Andrew Kwan Chi-wai, safety director at KMB, said some systems would need adjustment because each country has different driving conditions.

“This system is just to help drivers drive safely. We have no intention to discipline drivers because of it ,” he said at a local road safety event.

The anti-drowsiness measures are being rolled out a after a KMB bus crashed in Tai Po last February, killing 19 people. The accidents was one of Hong Kong’s deadliest road disasters and raised questions about whether drivers had sufficient training, support and management.

The dash-mounted anti-drowsiness device uses facial recognition to determine a driver’s level of alertness. Photo: Winson Wong

The bus company added about 160 buses installed with electronic stability systems and devices that limit driving speeds were expected to arrive in Hong Kong in August.

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Hong Kong buses soon to be equipped with anti-drowsiness systems – and a range of other eye-opening safety measures

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}System is designed to detect a driver’s level of alertness through facial recognition software – and emits a warning if the driver dozes off.

System is designed to detect a driver’s level of alertness through facial recognition software – and emits a warning if the driver dozes off.