When traversing the mountains or the desert, you are already challenged by the distance between cities. Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 50 require your concentration on the road. What happens if you lose concentration after a number of miles? Can your vehicle keep you going?
Subaru’s DriverFocus Driver Monitoring System is there to assist when you are either distracted or fatigued over the miles. This proven technology monitors your driving behavior. Once it senses anything outside your focus, the system alerts you through audible and visual alerts and encourages you to take a break if needed.
How impactful is the DriverFocus Driver Monitoring System? According to a survey conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which involved around 3,500 owners, nearly 90% reported using the system most or all the time, and 70% indicated that they’d like the feature on their next vehicle. Additionally, nearly 63% of drivers report that it also made them safer drivers by reducing the likelihood of crashes.
The IIHS points out that driver drowsiness or distraction was a contributing factor in almost 4,000 fatal crashes in 2023 alone. Situations include driving for hours on end without taking any breaks, physically using the phone while behind the wheel, using the climate control or infotainment system with eyes away from the road, or talking to another person as the vehicle is in motion. These are some of the reasons that could cause an incident on the road.
DriverFocus works by using EyeSight to enable it to work effectively. The goal is to ensure that drivers who are drowsy or distracted keep their focus on the road at all times. Can DriverFocus read the driving behaviors of people behind the wheel? Absolutely! There is a camera facing the driver that interfaces with the rest of the assistance technologies Subaru uses in its vehicles. The camera monitors the driver to make sure they are focused on the road ahead. Aside from audible and visual alerts, DriverFocus can reduce the volume of your audio system to ensure that the alerts are heard. The system can also adjust climate control settings, seat and outside mirrors positions, and other vehicle controls.
Since 2019, more than 715,000 Subaru models have been equipped with the DriverFocus Driver Monitoring System. You can find them on the Outback, Forester, Crosstrek, Ascent, WRX, and Solterra. It is also equipped on the Legacy sedan and will be equipped in the upcoming Uncharted EV, which is set to arrive later this year.
Subaru’s reputation for safety is also evident in the numerous crash test awards it has earned from the IIHS. DriverFocus is another layer of protection that makes a difference when you are behind the wheel.
If you would like to see how DriverFocus works for you, contact us at Michael Hohl Subaru to schedule a demonstration of this life-saving technology.
