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Driver fatigue is one of the biggest factors leading to road accidents. Bosch has recognised this with its Driver Drowsiness Detection unit, which is now fitted as standard in the new Volkswagen Passat Alltrack.

The system looks for initial signs of weariness by monitoring steering movements and then suggests that the driver takes a break if it judges them to be overtired. 

Information is gathered through the vehicle's electric steering or steering angle sensor, which forms part of the ESP anti-skid system. This means that the system can be easily installed at a low cost, which makes it accessible for the majority of drivers.

Volkswagen first added the system as standard to the new models of the Passat in 2010 and it will now feature in all models of the Passat Alltrack.

A survey carried out in 2010 by the American Automobile Association (AAA) outlined the seriousness of drowsiness when it found that there was a fatigued driver involved in 17 per cent of all fatal road accidents in the US.

Tiredness causes drivers to have an increased response time and to make steering mistakes more frequently.