Patent ID: 7427924

Claim:
A system for monitoring driver fatigue and inattention in a vehicle having a steering control, the system comprising: a sensor connected with respect to the steering control and the sensor having a millivolt AC signal; a controller connected with respect to the sensor, the sensor providing a steering input activity level to the controller, the controller includes a limiter connected with respect to an alarm, the limiter reducing the performance of the vehicle following a predetermined number of alarm activations, wherein the predetermined number of alarm activations is greater than one, the limiter reduces a performance of a vehicle by at least one of shutting down cylinders in an engine and adjusting parameters within an engine control management software; the alarm connected with respect to the controller, the alarm activated when the steering input activity level exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein the predetermined threshold comprises a steering input rotation that exceeds a maximum level; and a speed control device connected with respect to the vehicle and to the controller, wherein the controller disables the speed control device upon activation of the alarm.