​​DriverFocus Driver Monitoring System Popular among Subaru Owners​

Subaru is known for safety. Its vehicles are equipped with the EyeSight® safety and driver assistance technologies, and they perform well in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash tests. Multiple publications have recommended Subaru vehicles as the best vehicles for teens, the age group most likely to have a vehicle accident. Subaru has also aired commercials emphasizing the safety of its models. So, it may be safe to assume that Subaru has more than its fair share of safety-minded drivers. This idea may be reinforced by a study showing that 9 out of 10 drivers with vehicles equipped with the DriverFocus® Driver Monitoring system have it on most or all of the time. Twin Falls Subaru provides the details.  

Subaru models feature several safety systems that monitor the surroundings, such as many of the EyeSight® components and features like the Tire Pressure Monitoring System. The DriverFocus® Monitoring System is different because it monitors the driver directly. It uses a driver-facing camera and infrared sensors to watch the driver’s eyes and ensure they’re looking at the road ahead. If the system detects that the driver may be drowsy, it can trigger visual and auditory alerts to refocus attention on the road. It may even lower the audio system’s volume to ensure the warnings are clearly heard. 

One might expect some pushback from drivers who feel the vehicle monitoring them is intrusive, and the system can be turned off. Yet a study by the IIHS of nearly 3,500 owners of vehicles equipped with the system showed that almost 90% of owners report using it most or all of the time, and 70% said they would like to have the feature on their next vehicle. 

“Safety is at the heart of every Subaru, and we’re proud to offer technologies to move us forward in that mission. Subaru continues to raise the bar by bringing to market models recognized as some of the safest SUVs, EVs, and hybrids on the road, thanks to active safety features such as DriverFocus® and EyeSight®.”- Jeff Walters, President and COO of Subaru of America, Inc. 

First introduced in the 2019 model year, DriverFocus® has been installed in thousands of new Subaru vehicles and is currently available on Outback, Forester, WRX, Legacy, Crosstrek, Ascent, and Solterra. Since its launch, more than 715,000 Subaru vehicles have been sold with DriverFocus® equipped. Across nearly the same time, IIHS reported that driver drowsiness or distraction was a contributing factor in almost 4,000 fatal crashes in 2023 alone, which may be “almost certainly” an underreported figure. 

Almost two-thirds of those surveyed feel that DriverFocus® makes them safer on the road, and 63% shared that it helps them steer clear of distractions like using their navigation system or adjusting the radio or climate controls. 

“We do a lot of things behind the wheel almost unconsciously, without thinking that they’re unsafe,” said IIHS Research Scientist Aimee Cox, the lead author of the study. “But those seemingly benign actions can pull our attention away from the road and increase the risk of crashing.” 

Just like its belief in the safety of all-wheel drive, horizontally opposed engines, and the Subaru Love Promise, DriverFocus® is just another example of Subaru being a different kind of car company.  If you appreciate a car company that puts such focus and innovation into safety, and addresses it from all angles, you may want to visit Twin Falls Subaru for a test drive of any of the models from its vast inventory.  And as always, drive safely.