In May this year, we kicked-off the PANACEA journey with our first virtual project meeting, accompanied by our 16 partners. We shared our visions of the work to be taken up by highlighting the interrelations between the different parts of the project and identifying any early risks and their potential mitigation strategies.

We welcome this project, as it aims not only to improve road safety for professional drivers but also because it cares about their health and wellbeing as a pillar in the transportation workforce.

In these first few months, we set the project plan and sharing space as well as the initial ethical and data protection policies for any activities involving humans and data handling. Moreover, we held several conceptual and technical meetings in order to lay the groundwork for PANACEA.

The first outcomes of the project are a recent literature review on the impairing states addressed (i.e., fatigue, sleepiness, stress, alcohol, drugs, distraction, and cognitive load), where we identified the complexities underlying these factors and any competing solutions. The technologies identified in the literature review along others were benchmarked against the project technologies based on pre-defined indicators.

Our SENSAIR touchless in-car alcohol sensor, the LEITAT optical biosensor that will detect not only the licit or illicit drug but also their concentration even after five days they were consumed, the on-board fatigue driver monitoring and operator support DATIK FitDrive system are cutting-edge solutions, which will be integrated into the PANACEA platform to form the PANACEA solution.

Next steps include holding focus groups and interviews across the pilot sites (Linköping, San Sebastian, and Thessaloniki) with shuttle operators, bus, electric truck, coach and taxi drivers as well as courier service riders and stakeholders (traffic control center operators, police officers, scientists, etc.) to investigate their health and wellbeing needs and requirements across different working shift phases (e.g., before, during and after the shift).

The work accomplished over the first eight months is being utilised to create and develop the scenarios that will reveal the necessary functions and functionalities of the PANACEA solution and the interactions among the main actors (drivers, riders, operators, police officers, and coaching and support specialists) of its ecosystem.

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The coordination team

The US government may require monitoring systems to stop intoxicated drivers, which would roll out in all new vehicles as early as 2026, after the Transportation Department assesses the best form of technology to install in millions of vehicles and automakers are given time to comply.

The Panacea project is looking at emerging technologies to help prevent drink-driving among professional drivers. To keep updated on our progress, follow us on twitter, LinkedIn and sign-up for our newsletter.

https://www.autoblog.com/2021/11/10/drunk-driving-car-technology-infrastructure-bill/

Legislators in Spain are currently discussing a road-safety proposal which could see alcohol interlocks introduced on buses and lorries from next year.

Monitoring alcohol use by professional drivers is one of the areas under investigation by the Panacea project, looking at which emerging technologies could help reduce the problem among various groups, including bus and lorry drivers and taxi drivers. Stay tuned for more as our work progresses.

Spain may introduce alcohol interlocks for buses and lorries

A recent report published by Panacea project partner ETSC, looks at the issue of fitness to drive in Europe.

Our project is developing a monitoring and assessment system for professional drivers to improve road safety in this area.

You can download the ETSC report from their website at: https://etsc.eu/are-medical-fitness-to-drive-procedures-fit-for-purpose-pin-flash-40/