Subaru drivers are keeping DriverFocus, a system that uses a driver-facing camera to detect drowsiness and distraction, switched on and believe it makes them safer drivers, according to
Features like DriverFocus are designed to analyze steering patterns and lane changes to determine a driver's awareness. Some, like DriverFocus, use a driver-facing camera to detect whether their eyes are open and direct toward the road.
"We do a lot of things behind the wheel almost unconsciously, without thinking that they're unsafe," said IIHS Research Scientist
An online survey was conducted in September 2024 with 3,475 Subaru owners in the U.S. with models equipped with DriverFocus.
Seventy percent of respondents said they would want the system again. Sixty-four percent agreed it made them a safer driver and 63% agreed it helped them avoid distraction.
Four percent of drivers cited receiving too many alerts and annoyance as the top reason for turning off the system under their profile settings. Drivers did perceive some alerts as false positives but the false negative rate was low, according to the results.
Fifty-six percent of respondents received six or fewer alerts, while 29% of drivers reported alerts one to three times in the past 30 days, 28% received 10 or more. Twelve percent of respondents said they were never actually distracted when they got an alert, and 37% said this was sometimes the case.
"Such a high level of acceptance for a system designed to keep drivers' attention on the road is a bit surprising and very encouraging," said IIHS President David Harkey, in a statement. "Distraction and drowsiness are factors in thousands of crash deaths every year."
