Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Transport (MOT) is actively engaging with stakeholders in the land transport industry to explore the implementation of digital monitoring systems aimed at detecting driver fatigue and health conditions, such as sleep apnea, that could affect road safety.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah revealed that discussions are ongoing with various parties, including industry operators, innovators, and logistics companies, particularly those involved in heavy and light transport. The focus is on assessing the feasibility and cost implications of these technologies, which have previously been considered expensive.
During a session at Dewan Negara, Datuk Hasbi addressed concerns raised by Senator Datuk Koh Nai Kwong regarding the potential use of wearable devices or digital monitoring systems to evaluate the fatigue and health levels of public service vehicle (PSV) drivers. In response, he mentioned that the ministry is looking into these matters comprehensively under a new memorandum of agreement (MoA).
In May, the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) and Alpha International Training and Consultancy signed an MoA to collaborate on developing specialized training programs. These programs focus on road safety and related aspects, including a Sleep Management and Rehabilitation Certification Programme aimed at addressing sleep deprivation issues that impact road safety. The initiative seeks to raise awareness, encourage behavioral changes, and equip road users, especially commercial drivers and transport operators, with skills to manage fatigue effectively.
Deputy Minister Hasbi further highlighted the ministry's interest in innovative technologies, such as a driver identity recognition system that uses the vehicle steering wheel to detect health indicators like heart rate. This system could prevent unhealthy drivers from commencing their journeys. He emphasized that the ministry is considering these innovations alongside the MoA on sleep apnea to determine the next steps forward.