Seeing Machines Ltd (AIM:SEE, OTC:SEEMF), a maker of driver monitoring systems, welcomed a bipartisan infrastructure agreement passed by the US House of Representatives last Friday that contains measures to improve road safety.
President Joe Biden is expected to sign the legislation immediately into law.
The legislation includes pieces of the SAFE Act, which would require Driver Monitoring System (DMS) technology to detect distracted driving, and the RIDE Act, which would require new cars to use advanced drunk driving technology to stop impaired driving.
The safety provisions would require the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) to carefully research DMS and begin the rulemaking process to regulate this technology, the AIM-traded company said.
The measures follow the lead in Europe where DMS is required in new cars, vans, trucks and buses to detect distracted and drowsy driving starting from 2022.
"DMS is already on the road today in systems like General Motors' Super Cruise and can tell whether the driver is engaged in the driving task or is distracted,” said chief executive Paul McGlone. “If the driver is distracted, it has the ability to warn the driver and save lives.
"Seeing Machines welcomes this progress on automotive safety and we look forward to continuing work with the US Congress and NHTSA to ensure these technologies are available to all drivers and save the maximum number of lives."
Early estimates from NHTSA indicate an 18.4% increase in traffic deaths in the first half of 2021, the largest jump in US auto fatalities since 2006.