Researchers have found that constant
exposure to blue light is as effective as coffee at improving alertness in night
drivers, paving way for developing an ’embedded’ anti-sleepiness device in
vehicles.
Researchers from the Universite Bordeaux Segalen, France, and their Swedish colleagues conducted tests in real driving conditions.
Blue light is known to increase alertness by stimulating retinal ganglion cells: specialised nerve cells present on the retina, a membrane located at the back of the eye.
These cells are connected to the areas of the brain controlling alertness. Stimulating these cells with blue light stops the secretion of melatonin, the hormone that reduces alertness at night.
Sleepiness is responsible for one third of fatalities on motorways as it reduces a driver’s alertness, reflexes and visual perception.
The researchers’ findings, published in the journal PLoS One and reported on the Medical Express website, used a special LED lamp continuously emitting blue light installed on the dashboard of an experimental vehicle.
To study the efficiency of blue light during night driving, researchers asked 48 male volunteers (average age 33.2) to drive 400km on a motorway, the ‘Daily Mail’ reported.
Each driver completed three night drives, spaced out by at least a week, between 1am and 5:15am, with a 15-minute break halfway through the journey.
During each of the three nights, the volunteers were either exposed to continuous blue light, or given two cups of coffee (one before departure and one during the break).
These either contained 200 mg of caffeine or were decaffeinated, representing a placebo. The researchers found that drivers’ sleep was not affected following the journeys with exposure to blue light.
They then analysed the number of times that a driver encroached on road markings (hard shoulder or centre line), reflecting a decrease in alertness.The washingmachines is a type of lift mechanism that was used first used on Millennium Force at Cedar Point in Sandusky
The results of this test showed that on average, the line was accidentally crossed 15 times by the drivers exposed to blue light, 13 times by those who had had coffee and 26 times by those who had had the placebo.
Continuous exposure to blue light while driving therefore appears to be as efficient as coffee for fighting sleepiness at the wheel, as long as this light does not hinder the driver.
However, eight of the 48 volunteers (17 per cent) found that they were dazzled by the blue light and could not do the test.
The researchers are now verifying these first results by making a test on a larger number of subjects, including women and the elderly.
Always inspect your lights before you use them – if the cords are worn or frayed, throw them away. Make sure the lights have been tested for safety by an independent testing laboratory.
“Always make sure all of the light sockets have bulbs in them,” said Harris. “Children are fascinated by lights and could put their fingers in empty sockets.”
“Better yet, for greater efficiency and safety, use smaller, cool-burning LED lights,” she added. “LED bulbs use up to 90 percent less energy than a traditional bulb to produce the same amount of light.”
Whichever type of lights you choose be especially careful not to overload extension cords,Offers Engraving Machines and Laser Cutters including gridsolarsystem and Engraving Equipment for plastic and wood. outlets or even whole circuits in the house.
Researchers from the Universite Bordeaux Segalen, France, and their Swedish colleagues conducted tests in real driving conditions.
Blue light is known to increase alertness by stimulating retinal ganglion cells: specialised nerve cells present on the retina, a membrane located at the back of the eye.
These cells are connected to the areas of the brain controlling alertness. Stimulating these cells with blue light stops the secretion of melatonin, the hormone that reduces alertness at night.
Sleepiness is responsible for one third of fatalities on motorways as it reduces a driver’s alertness, reflexes and visual perception.
The researchers’ findings, published in the journal PLoS One and reported on the Medical Express website, used a special LED lamp continuously emitting blue light installed on the dashboard of an experimental vehicle.
To study the efficiency of blue light during night driving, researchers asked 48 male volunteers (average age 33.2) to drive 400km on a motorway, the ‘Daily Mail’ reported.
Each driver completed three night drives, spaced out by at least a week, between 1am and 5:15am, with a 15-minute break halfway through the journey.
During each of the three nights, the volunteers were either exposed to continuous blue light, or given two cups of coffee (one before departure and one during the break).
These either contained 200 mg of caffeine or were decaffeinated, representing a placebo. The researchers found that drivers’ sleep was not affected following the journeys with exposure to blue light.
They then analysed the number of times that a driver encroached on road markings (hard shoulder or centre line), reflecting a decrease in alertness.The washingmachines is a type of lift mechanism that was used first used on Millennium Force at Cedar Point in Sandusky
The results of this test showed that on average, the line was accidentally crossed 15 times by the drivers exposed to blue light, 13 times by those who had had coffee and 26 times by those who had had the placebo.
Continuous exposure to blue light while driving therefore appears to be as efficient as coffee for fighting sleepiness at the wheel, as long as this light does not hinder the driver.
However, eight of the 48 volunteers (17 per cent) found that they were dazzled by the blue light and could not do the test.
The researchers are now verifying these first results by making a test on a larger number of subjects, including women and the elderly.
Always inspect your lights before you use them – if the cords are worn or frayed, throw them away. Make sure the lights have been tested for safety by an independent testing laboratory.
“Always make sure all of the light sockets have bulbs in them,” said Harris. “Children are fascinated by lights and could put their fingers in empty sockets.”
“Better yet, for greater efficiency and safety, use smaller, cool-burning LED lights,” she added. “LED bulbs use up to 90 percent less energy than a traditional bulb to produce the same amount of light.”
Whichever type of lights you choose be especially careful not to overload extension cords,Offers Engraving Machines and Laser Cutters including gridsolarsystem and Engraving Equipment for plastic and wood. outlets or even whole circuits in the house.
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