Seeing Machines upbeat on proposed US driver safety rules

Driver monitoring technology specialist Seeing Machines updated the market on Wednesday, on an announcement from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The AIM-traded firm said the NHTSA's 'advanced notice of proposed rulemaking' (ANPRM) signalled a pivotal move towards making impaired-driving prevention technology a standard feature in new passenger vehicles.

It noted that the ANPRM explicitly referenced driver monitoring systems (DMS) as a technological solution to be considered in the upcoming formal rulemaking process.

The first step in implementing a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) allows the agency to gather crucial information regarding the advantages of technologies like DMS in combating distractions, drowsiness, and impaired driving.

"We are eager to continue our conversations with NHTSA and others who support reducing traffic fatalities and, as with Europe, have been delighted to be part of a small ecosystem of industry experts assisting this process," said chief executive officer Paul McGlone.

"Euro NCAP and the European Commission's general safety regulations (GSR) will require all cars, vans, trucks, and buses to be equipped with technology like ours to stop distraction and drowsiness beginning next year.

"It is clear that regulatory momentum around driver safety is building around the world and we commend the US Department of Transportation for making this critical safety technology a priority in the coming months."

At 1318 GMT, shares in Seeing Machines were up 0.04% at 5.24p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.