Soon, car that may put drivers to sleep

A leading automobile luxury brand is developing a car that will use aromatherapy and soft music to encourage drivers to take a power nap. Initially the system was developed with long-haul truck drivers in mind, but the company has revealed that it will be rolled out to its passenger car range in the future. Mercedes-Benz' "Active Comfort" system uses fragrance, lighting and soft music to help a driver to nod off quickly if they pull over to take a power nap, according to Sydney Morning Herald. Claiming that a 20 minute power nap can "enhance concentration, reactions and general performance substantially", Mercedes will install a fragrance-emitting air-conditioning system that fills the cockpit with different scents depending on what the driver is doing. Menthol to stimulate the senses and keep them alert or an orange essence when the driver pulls over for a snooze Crash statistics suggest that fatigue is the reason behind 15 per cent of all fatal car accidents and 8 per cent of all reported crashes. Therefore the system also involves changes to the car cabin to provide better noise insulation and improved fresh air flow. Noise can be tiring for drivers, while if the cabin becomes too warm, it can lead to tiredness and slower reaction times. The NSW Centre for Road Safety's 2010 Crash Statistics report has estimated that the risk of having a fatal car accident increases four fold for people driving between 10 pm and sunrise. Professor Dietrich Gronemeyer, who was involved in the development of the Active Comfort system, said that the main idea is to make the cabin a more comfortable and calming place to be. As a result features like a massage function in the seat to help ease back pain or stereo which plays song according to the need of the driver have been induced in the car. "People who feel relaxed behind the wheel, take the right sort of break in good time and are supported in their seat by innovative technology have a good chance of avoiding the back trouble which has become a 'national ailment'. Stress is a key cause of back complaints, which even afflict the majority of young people today," Gronemeyer said.