caf

Yeah, the coffee cup thing. My sales guy at the time of delivery said he's never had a customer report an actual alert.

I was doing a road trip this weekend. My son got the alert twice. He swears he wasn't the least bit sleepy either time.

The next day I got an alert. I definitely wasn't sleepy, but I was doing quick, furtive glances at the Comand screen.

I tried to research a little bit about how the system works. I had thought (mistakenly) that it just used a camera to monitor eye movement and blink rates. While vague as to what is actually monitored, Mercedes says the system tracks 60-70 variables after creating a profile of the driver in the first few minutes of driving. One of the most important parameters seems to be the steering wheel sensor. Again, they don't really provide much information, but I'm guessing it monitors how you make little steering corrections.

Anyone have any additional information as to how the system works? Anyone ever had a real alert or a false positive? It sounds like Mercedes is currently on it's second generation of the device, from what I can glean, having been introduced on some models in 2008 or 9.

listerone

I've gotten 3 or 4 warnings.One or two of them were at least somewhat legit,the others weren't.The little bit of research I've done indicates that things like small adjustments of the steering wheel are measured.

listerone

Out of personal curiosity I did a quick search and came up with this.Pretty interesting IMO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8mhsoQA2ps

jweezy

I like those lights.

HoustonC230

I just made a 3100 mile road trip, and during some extended freeway stretches the light would come on / beep at me. I would say it was a 50/50 split on whether they were warranted. I wasn't ever actually drowsy, but perhaps zoning out a little too much.

LaicepsYdobon

Yes; I've gotten it twice. Both times I was genuinely tired. The system doesn't work right way. The first 20 minutes you spend in the car it builds a profile of you and the conditions you are driving in. If it detects significant deviations from you compared to your initial profile it will display the Attention Alert. It measures about 70 parameters including the time of day, the time elapsed since your start, average speed, the number of buttons pressed (radio, AC controls, etc), steering input and more. I've never had it report a false positive for me.

caf

Interesting responses. Sounds like some have had false positives, some not.

I'm actually OK with some false positives. I don't tend to fall asleep at the wheel, but years ago my father in law was driving my wife and kids all night to Hilton Head Island. Somewhere in North Carolina he suddenly woke up in the grassy median with our Ford Explorer bouncing up and down at highway speed. Very scary. Fortunately it didn't roll or head into oncoming traffic.

2012MLBlue

I got my first three alerts on a long drive a couple of weeks ago and it was after two nights of terrible sleep so I really was exhausted. I don't recall driving any differently but I really think the system works!!! The beep was pretty loud and probably would jolt you awake if you were nodding off. Not sure if I was but I made it home safely.

frtdog

Just prior to impact! (just kidding)

skw

My wife actually got a legit alert driving home a few nights ago so I'd say it does work.

PhillySteve

I've only had the car a couple months and have gotten 3 false alarms. I think it needs a little more refinement. Great idea though. These false alarms are nowhere near as annoying as the new FCC alarms that come to my phone.

katiesdad7

I have gotten a few alerts and think it works great. Easy to turn off by hitting the OK button. Its a nice feature.

GregW / Oregon

I think I slept through them!

stevenross

i think its awesome.. i wish my wifes denali would tell me when its time to take a break

rayuelo

I've had 4 or 5 false positives.

Also, there was one time I was pretty drowsy driving late at night, and it never went off. I think the trip was only 30 minutes, so perhaps my driving behavior never deviated from the drowsy profile the system created

dougiebear

Is that drousy or dosey?
Hahahahaha
Ray Bluetec right?
How's the mileage when drousy? :o)

rayuelo

Drousy = drowsy?? Was probably dosey too.

Yup Bluetec.

I think I will go have a nap now.

dougiebear

LOL
Who needs therapy just visit here at least once a day. They could charge for this hahaha