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What piece of clothing did Ford put a detection system into to curb drowsy driving?

Answer: A trucker cap.

On the outside, the Safe Cap by Ford looks like your average trucker cap. On the inside, however, is an army of sensors keeping tabs on the head position of the wearer. Ford used a gyroscope and an accelerometer to program the hat to use those sensors to detect cues of drowsy driving.

The hat is also equipped with tech that allows it to alert the wearer once it picks up on sleepy behavior. This includes vibration, sounds and flashing lights.

While not yet in production, the Safe Cap has so far been successful in Ford’s tests. The company plans to share the product with partners and customers, hoping it will eventually find its way to the market. If it does make it to widespread distribution, it has the potential to increase road safety.

Kate is a senior copy editor in Northern California. She holds a bachelor's degree in English with a minor in professional writing from the University of California, Davis.