Samsara Inc. has launched its Drowsiness Detection feature, now available to customers globally.

This new tool leverages Samsara’s AI models, trained on a large-scale dataset, to detect signs of driver drowsiness in real-time. When signs of fatigue are detected, an in-cab audio alert is triggered, and fleet managers are notified via text or email. This helps prevent fatigue-related incidents and allows for timely interventions.

Fleet managers can access detailed reports within the Samsara platform, which provide insights into fatigue patterns across their fleet, helping guide coaching efforts to reduce drowsy driving and improve road safety.

“Detecting drowsiness is complex,” said Evan Welbourne, VP of AI and Data at Samsara. “It’s not just about a single behavior, like yawning or closing your eyes. Drowsiness involves a range of subtle behaviors, and detecting it accurately requires a vast amount of high-quality data to train AI models.”

AI and Data Power Drowsiness Detection

According to the National Safety Council, drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a crash if they are fatigued. Fatigue management is particularly crucial in the trucking industry, where long hours and unpredictable conditions put drivers at increased risk. 

Samsara’s new feature is designed to address these challenges by detecting a range of fatigue-related behaviors, including head nodding, slouching, prolonged eye closure, and yawning.

The data behind this feature is robust — Samsara trains its AI models using over 38 billion minutes of video footage. Early adopters of the system have seen significant results, with one U.S.-based oilfield services company reporting a sharp decrease in incidents of drivers falling asleep at the wheel.

Samsara’s safety solutions, powered by its petabyte-scale dataset, continue to provide fleets with the tools needed to improve road safety and driver well-being.