OptAlert Driver Guide

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What is Drowsiness?Drowsiness is the intermediate state between alert wakefulness and sleep. We all go through this state each time we fall asleep, often without realising because it is a state of reduced awareness.

Drowsiness is an unstable state that fluctuates between different levels and intermittently causes lack of awareness of the “here-and-now”.

What is Fatigue?Fatigue is often confused with drowsiness.

Fatigue is a state associated with weariness, muscle aches or discomfort, and a disinclination to continue what you have been doing. Fatigue gets progressively worse with the duration and intensity of the task.

Fatigue and DrowsinessDriving for many hours without a rest stop may cause you to feel fatigued, but not necessarily drowsy. The intermittent lack of awareness that characterises drowsiness is not caused by fatigue. Consequently, drowsiness is much more dangerous than fatigue from a driver safety perspective.

Fatigue doesn’t fluctuate rapidly over periods of a few seconds, as drowsiness can. Fatigue is relieved by rest and inactivity, but this will make drowsiness worse. On the other hand, increasing physical and mental activity may temporarily reduce the effects of drowsiness, but will make fatigue worse.

The only way to overcome drowsiness is to sleep.

Causes of DrowsinessFactors that can influence drowsiness include:

• How long you have been awake

• The duration and quality of your last sleep

• The time of day. Your biological clock (circadian rhythm) influences how alert and drowsy you are at certain times of the day. We typically feel sleepy during the early hours of the morning and mid-afternoon

• The presence of a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea. Symptoms of sleep apnea include heavy snoring, periods without breathing, restless sleep and constantly being tired during the day

• The most common cause of excessive drowsiness is not having enough sleep

The Risks of Drowsy Driving• The U.S. National Transportation Safety

Board reports that driver drowsiness may be a contributing factor in up to 40 percent of heavy vehicle accidents*

• Drowsy drivers are often not aware of their condition and can lapse into a ‘micro-sleep’ that may last only a few seconds, long enough to drive off the road and crash. These crashes tend to be the most severe in terms of injury and death, as the driver makes no attempt to avoid or prevent the crash#

• Being drowsy significantly increases your risk of a crash. It can impair your judgement, reaction times and driving performance as much as alcohol

• Studies show that going without sleep for 17 hours has the same effect on driving ability as a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .05. Being awake for 24 hours has the same effect as a BAC of 0.1‡

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Reducing the Risk• It is often difficult for drivers to assess

their own levels of drowsiness

• OptAlert provides you with the tools to manage your own drowsiness before it reaches dangerous levels

• OptAlert provides continuous, objective information about your current level of drowsiness

• Based on 16 years of research and development, OptAlert is the world’s first scientifically validated system that continuously measures your level of alertness/drowsiness while driving

• The OptAlert system objectively measures drowsiness by monitoring the movements of your eyelids and calculates the risk of you having a drowsy crash

• Several of the worlds most recognised and safety conscious companies use OptAlert

* National Transportation Safety Board, USA (1995)# National Sleep Foundation, USA‡ Australian Transport Council, National Road Safety Action plan (2007, 2008)

Strategies for dealing with drowsinessUsed in conjunction with OptAlert, the following strategies may help delay the onset of drowsiness, but will only provide short-term benefits. The only way to overcome drowsiness is to sleep.

Stop Driving and Sleep

• Powernaps for 15-30 minutes can partially overcome drowsiness. Allow at least 15 minutes after waking up to fully recover alertness before starting to drive

• Naps should not be used as an alternative to major continuous rest breaks

Increase Physical Activity (only if compatible with safe driving)

• Changing position of head and neck, trunk, or limbs

• Chewing gum or other food

• Tapping toes or fingers etc

• Talking to yourself or, preferably, to someone else

Caffeine

• Takes approximately 15 minutes to have any effect on drowsiness

• At least 150 mg is needed (2 cups of strong coffee or 3 cola drinks) to counteract drowsiness temporarily

Suggestion:

An effective strategy is to take caffeine first, then nap for 15-20 minutes by which time the caffeine will have begun to work. The combined effect of the nap and caffeine is greater than either alone.

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The OptAlert SystemGlassesOptAlert Glasses measure the movements of your eyelids and sends this information to the processor

ProcessorThis is the information hub of the system and processes all Glasses information to calculate your crash risk

SpeakerEmits a clear audio warning when you are showing the first signs of drowsiness

IndicatorThe interactive Indicator provides a real-time display of your drowsiness score, crash-risk and system status

Connection PointThis is where you plug in your GlassesGlassesIndicatorSpeakerProcessor Connection

Point

Using your OptAlert GlassesOptAlert Glasses should only be worn if they have been professionally fitted by an authorized Optalert technician.

OptAlert Glasses come with the following components:

• Glasses frame and cable

• Five detachable tinted wrap lenses (smoke, steel, copper, gold, crystal)

• Prescription lens adaptor (if applicable)

To connect the glasses cable to the OptAlert Glasses, push the mini-USB plug (small end of cable) gently into the corresponding USB socket located on the underside of the glasses arm as shown.

To connect the glasses cable to the Connection Point, push the USB plug (larger end of glasses cable) gently into the corresponding USB socket in the Connection Point as shown.

When the lenses need cleaning or replacing, simply detach the lens from the frame by placing your thumb and index finger on each side of the frame and squeeze gently.

USB connectors are designed to fit one way only: check before inserting.

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Indicator Displays - System start

Glasses Connected

• Glasses icon will flash three times when you connect the Glasses and then remain illuminated

OptAlert Calibrating

• Three moving dots will rotate around the glasses icon until OptAlert is able to display your drowsiness score

• This process may take approximately 5 minutes as OptAlert self-calibrates

3 quick flashes

Self-calibration mode

Measuring your crash-riskOptAlert displays your drowsiness score each minute on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 = fully alert and 10 = very drowsy. Drowsiness scores and other factors are used to calculate your crash-risk at the time.

When you are alert, your drowsiness scores will vary within the range 0 – 4.4 indicating a low crash-risk.

With a drowsiness score of 4.5 or more, drivers have a significantly increased crash-risk.

• 4.5 to 4.9 = medium crash-risk

• 5.0 to 9.9 = high crash-risk

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Indicator Displays: Low Crash-Risk

Drowsiness Score (0 to 4.4)

Low crash risk

If you remain in the low risk category for 5 continuous minutes, the drowsiness score and crash-risk status bar will fade. This is known as safe mode.

* Safe mode only activates if crash-risk is low

Current Drowsiness Score

Crash-risk

Glasses status

Safe Mode*

• Touch OptAlert logo to resume full-screen display

Indicator Displays: Medium & High Crash-Risk

Drowsiness Score (4.5 to 4.9)

Medium crash risk

Drowsiness Score (5.0 to 9.9)

High crash risk (status bar will flash)

Safe mode will not activate if your crash-risk is medium or high

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OptAlert Audible Warnings “Please Take Care”

OptAlert is in pause mode.

“Caution, Medium Risk”

Your crash-risk has begun to increase.

Implement your drowsiness prevention plan.

“Danger, High Risk”

Your crash-risk has greatly increased.

Implement your company’s drowsiness management plan.

Indicator Displays - System status

Pause Mode

• Glasses icon will flash repeatedly indicating that the system is in a paused state and no longer monitoring your drowsiness

• The system will pause if you take the Glasses off your face for longer than 15 seconds

• For mining systems only. The system will pause when your vehicle is stationary or in reverse gear

Maintenance Required

• Maintenance is required for your OptAlert system if a red spanner icon appears

• Please contact your supervisor or on-site Optalert representative if this error occurs

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Caring for your OptAlert GlassesLens Care

To clean lenses:

1. Remove lenses from frame

2. Run the lenses under cold water to remove dirt and dust

3. Remove excess water using soft tissue

4. Clean lenses using the OptAlert micro cloth (provided)

• Do not use solvents or cleaning products on the lenses

• The OptAlert micro cloth is re-usable and can be washed

Glasses Care

• When not using your Glasses, store them in the case provided

• Do not leave your OptAlert Glasses on the dash or in direct sunlight

• Your OptAlert Glasses have been specifically fitted to you. They will not operate correctly if worn by other people

• Do not disconnect the Glasses or change lenses while driving

Prescription Lens Adaptor (if applicable):

• If you require prescription lenses to drive, choose the lens holder that best suits you. Optalert will provide a letter to your Optometrist confirming the lens type required

Safety Notes• OptAlert detects the onset of drowsiness and helps

you manage it. It does not prevent drowsiness

• Using OptAlert does not replace regulations or OH&S policies already in place within your organization

• Plugging or unplugging your OptAlert Glasses while the vehicle is in motion could be a distraction

• Any repairs to OptAlert must be made by an authorized Optalert technician

• Your OptAlert Glasses have been specifically fitted to you. They will not operate effectively on other people without an authorized Optalert technician fitting the Glasses

• Talk to your supervisor or on-site OptAlert representative if you have any concerns regarding your OptAlert system

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Notes

Notes

CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT AND DISCLAIMER This document embodies CONFIDENTIAL and PROPRIETARY information prepared exclusively for Optalert Pty Ltd. All intellectual, design, manufacturing, reproduction, use and sale rights regarding this document are expressly reserved by Optalert Pty Ltd. This document is submitted under a confidential relationship for a specific purpose, and the recipient agrees by accepting this document not to supply or disclose any information regarding it to any unauthorized person, or organization, or to incorporate in any projects any special features particular to the design illustrated in this document without the express written consent of Optalert Pty Ltd. These materials and all of the contents contained herein are provided “AS IS” and Optalert Pty Ltd. neither assumes nor accepts any liability for any errors or omissions contained in these materials.© Copyright Optalert Pty Ltd. Ltd 2010 All rights reserved. Optalert™ is a registered trademark of Optalert Pty Ltd. Pty Ltd.

For more detailed information about drowsiness and strategies to counteract its effects visit www.OptAlert.com