Ministry Of Transport To Study Use of Technology To Monitor Driver’s Fitness

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2 (Bernama) — The Ministry of Transport (MOT) is holding engagements with stakeholders in the land transport industry, among others, to examine the proposed use of digital monitoring system technology to detect driver fatigue and health levels, particularly in relation to sleep disorders or sleep apnea.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah said discussions were also held with various parties including industry operators, innovators and logistics companies, especially those involved in heavy and light transport.

“We are aware of (sleep apnea). In the past, it (the digital driver health monitoring system) was once raised about its cost, because it will cost hundreds of ringgit for each check and so on.

“However, with this new MoA (memorandum of agreement), we will look at this matter comprehensively,” he said during a question and answer session at Dewan Negara today.

He was replying a supplementary question by Senator Datuk Koh Nai Kwong who wanted to know if the government was considering the use of wearable device technology or digital monitoring systems to detect the level of fatigue and health of public service vehicle (PSV) drivers.

In May, the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) and Alpha International Training and Consultancy signed an MoA to collaborate in developing and implementing specialised training programmes in the field of road safety and related aspects, including the Sleep Management and Rehabilitation Certification Programme.

The programme aims to address the issue of sleep deprivation and its impact on road safety in addition to raising awareness, encouraging behavioral changes and equipping road users, especially commercial drivers and transport operators, with the skills to effectively manage fatigue.

Touching on innovation, Hasbi said the ministry is also paying attention to proposals on the use of advanced technology such as a driver identity recognition system through the vehicle steering wheel that can detect health levels such as heart rate as soon as it is held.

He said this innovation is able to prevent unhealthy drivers from starting the journey.

“We are taking note of this matter (including) with the MoA made with the industry on sleep apnea. The ministry will formulate what is the outcome from there (MoA) and what is the next way forward on this,” he said.

— BERNAMA