Circadian Adapted
This website adapts color temperature to your local time, reducing blue light exposure during evening hours.

Drive Awake

Sleep, Attention & Road Safety

Drive Awake explores human consciousness through the lens of drowsy driving. Conceived by Matteo Fieni and Opening, this multimedia project uses circadian neuroscience as a storytelling tool to examine how awake we truly are—on the road and in life. A documentary, digital platform, and awareness campaign invite audiences to question autopilot living and embrace conscious presence.

Drowsy driving causes preventable accidents. Drive Awake transforms sleep science into actionable knowledge through documentary filmmaking, research collaboration and public education.

What is Drive Awake?

Drive Awake is a Swiss national initiative (2024-2028+) addressing drowsy driving through evidence-based awareness. We combine:

Documentary

Documentary (2025-2027)

Feature film exploring sleep science and road safety through expert interviews and human stories.

Platform

Platform (2026 Launch)

Educational content ecosystem with research archive and public awareness materials.

Research

Research Partnerships

Scientific collaboration with sleep medicine institutes and traffic safety organizations.

Goal: Reduce drowsy driving accidents through scientific understanding and public awareness.

About Drive Awake

A Swiss initiative transforming sleep science into road safety action

Who We Are

Drive Awake is conceived and directed by Matteo Fieni through Opening, a production house with 20+ years of photography expertise specializing in projects across art, science and holistic disciplines. The multilayered project uses drowsy driving as a lens to explore human consciousness, combining circadian neuroscience with visual storytelling. Kevin Merz co-directs the documentary component, bringing his filmmaking expertise to the vision.

Matteo Fieni

Concept Creator & Visionary Producer

Conceptual artist and Swiss Photo Award winner (2012), gaining national recognition. With background in communication and years working in the field, Matteo conceived Drive Awake as a multilayered exploration of consciousness using drowsy driving as a lens. Brings strategic vision through Opening: conceptual architecture, networking, personal research in nutrition, circadian biology, and consciousness studies. Leads project through Opening, overseeing multimedia platform, campaign strategy, and partnership development while delegating operational communication to specialized agencies. matteofieni.ch

Kevin Merz

Documentary Co-Director

Swiss filmmaker, co-founder Generative Center. Works screened: Sundance Film Festival, MoMA, Locarno Piazza Grande. Key films: Gotthard: One Life One Soul (100', 2015), On My Block trilogy exploring Lugano microcosms (2017-2019), An African Election (co-director, 2011). Co-directs Drive Awake documentary, bringing cinematic craft and human-centered storytelling. Explores consciousness themes through visual narrative. kevinmerz.info

Opening

Production House & Project Direction

Production house with 20+ years of photography expertise, specializing in projects that bridge art, science, and holistic disciplines. Notable productions include Camera F and Future Fermentation, exploring intersections of visual storytelling and scientific inquiry. For Drive Awake, Opening provides the creative and operational framework, using research as a storytelling tool rather than an institutional lens, combining artistic vision with evidence-based content across multimedia platforms. opening.ch

Together, Matteo and Kevin conduct expert interviews, combining scientific rigor with compelling human-centered storytelling.

Our Approach

Opening is not a scientific institution—we're artists who use research and technology as storytelling tools. Drive Awake takes a holistic approach to consciousness exploration, combining evidence-based neuroscience with human-centered narrative, ancient practices with modern insights, and intimate personal stories with global perspectives. The result is a project that engages both mind and heart, science and soul.

Production Partners

Drive Awake collaborates with specialized partners for content production and communication:

Generative Center produces the 24 campaign clips, transforming documentary material into short-form educational content.

Communication partners are currently being evaluated to support strategic messaging, media relations, and campaign distribution (2026).

Additional collaborators will join for technical infrastructure, distribution channels, and platform development as the project scales toward Drive Awake 2.0 implementation.

Operational formalization to support scaling infrastructure would be part of Drive Awake 2.0 (Phase 2) enhancement, pursued through Swiss Road Safety Fund (FVS) application in April 2026.

Scientific partnerships with sleep medicine institutes and traffic safety organizations are detailed in the Partners section.

Why This Project

Drowsy driving causes up to 33% of traffic accidents according to sleep medicine experts, yet remains vastly underreported due to diagnostic challenges. Unlike alcohol impairment, drowsiness cannot be measured at accident scenes, making the true scope of the problem difficult to quantify.

The Hidden Epidemic

Sleep deprivation impairs driving ability comparably to alcohol intoxication, yet public awareness remains low. Many drivers underestimate their own drowsiness or believe they can "push through" fatigue.

Research-Practice Gap

Circadian neuroscience and sleep medicine have advanced significantly, but this knowledge rarely reaches the public in accessible formats. Complex research remains confined to academic journals.

Prevention Opportunity

Drowsy driving is preventable through education, awareness and behavioral change. By bridging scientific research with compelling storytelling, we can create measurable impact on road safety.

The Documentary as Portal

The feature-length documentary uses drowsy driving as an entry point to explore deeper questions about consciousness: How many states exist between sleep and awareness? What happens when we dream while awake, or stay awake while dreaming? Combining circadian neuroscience with meditation practices, lucid dreaming research, and ancient wisdom traditions, the film offers multiple perspectives on what it means to be truly conscious.

Beyond road safety statistics, the documentary examines autopilot living—the ways we navigate daily life without full awareness. Through expert interviews, personal stories, and visual metaphor, Drive Awake invites audiences to question: How awake are we, really?

Our Approach

Drive Awake combines three complementary strategies to maximize reach and impact:

01

Deep Research

Collaboration with leading sleep medicine institutes (EOC, IRM Zurich) and traffic safety organizations (ACS, FVS, RoadCross). Two confidential research studies scheduled for publication in early 2026 provide scientific foundation.

02

Compelling Storytelling

Feature documentary (2025-2027) and 24 educational clips (2026) transform complex neuroscience into engaging human narratives. Evidence-based content delivered through cinematic quality production.

03

Scalable Infrastructure

Digital platform and centralized archive (Drive Awake 2.0) create a replicable model for international implementations. Knowledge systematically indexed for long-term accessibility and multi-channel distribution.

Mission & Vision

Mission

Transform sleep science and circadian neuroscience into accessible, actionable knowledge that reduces drowsy driving accidents through evidence-based awareness campaigns, compelling documentary storytelling, and sustainable educational infrastructure.

Vision

A society where drowsy driving is recognized as a serious and preventable road safety risk, where scientific understanding of sleep and attention informs public behavior, and where this model serves as a blueprint for international implementations addressing similar challenges worldwide.

Project Pillars

01

Documentary

Visual storytelling exploring sleep and safety through expert interviews and real human experiences.

02

Public Campaign Awareness

24 educational clips raising awareness across all age groups through accessible science communication.

03

Digital Platform

Educational hub delivering sleep science, research findings and practical guidance (launching 2026).

04

NAS Archive

Structured research and content repository for long-term preservation and institutional access.

Partner access planned from September 2026, depending on implementation feasibility

Timeline

2024
Early research, expert contacts, conceptual development
2025
Pre-production starts, production technical development (NAS), scientific interviews, Monte Verità research, IRM Zürich partnership (from September 2025), documentary start production
2026
Platform launch (mid-2026), community building starts, campaign pre-production (H2), campaign launch (Q3)
2027
Documentary release (end of year)
2028
Full evaluation of project impact and potential international implementations

Documentary 2025-2027

Exploring sleep, human performance and daily safety

The documentary evolves through ongoing interviews, research and collaboration with sleep medicine experts, traffic safety professionals and individuals affected by drowsy driving. It explores how sleep shapes our decisions, reactions and attention both on the road and in everyday life.

Rather than delivering a fixed narrative, the project captures the unfolding conversation between science and human experience as it happens, allowing discoveries to emerge naturally throughout 2025-2027.

Directors: Kevin Merz & Matteo Fieni
Release: Late 2027

Drive Awake Documentary - Night driving in Swiss Alps

Visual mood documentario — AI concept

Public Campaign Awareness

24 video clips transforming sleep science into action (Q3 2026 launch)

Overview

The Public Campaign Awareness initiative delivers 24 short-form video clips designed to reach diverse audiences across Switzerland. Drawing from documentary research and scientific partnerships, each clip addresses specific drowsy driving scenarios with evidence-based messaging and practical prevention strategies.

Target Audiences

  • Commuters: Long-distance drivers, highway safety
  • Shift Workers: Night shifts, irregular schedules
  • Young Drivers: Teens, students, peer contexts
  • General Public: Parents, elderly, medical factors

Distribution

  • Social Media: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube Shorts
  • Educational: Driving schools, workplace training
  • Partner Networks: ACS, RoadCross distribution
  • Broadcasting: RSI, SRF public channels

Content Approach

  • Scientific Accuracy: EOC & IRM validated
  • Human Stories: Real experiences, relatable
  • Practical Tips: Actionable prevention strategies
  • Visual Clarity: Engaging, shareable format

Impact Goals

Drive Awake 1.0 (Phase 1): Core Implementation (Secured)

  • Campaign Reach: 20K views per clip average (480K total)
  • Platform Engagement: 500K-750K total engagements across all channels
  • Behavioral Change: Measurable shifts in pre/post campaign surveys
  • Policy Impact: Evidence-based advocacy support for road safety initiatives

Drive Awake 2.0 (Phase 2): Enhanced Implementation (Funding-Dependent)

  • Campaign Reach: 50K views per clip average (1.2M total, +150%)
  • Platform Engagement: 1.5M-2M total engagements with advanced infrastructure
  • Community Activation: Pre-campaign alignment and ambassador program amplifying reach
  • Long-term Sustainability: Scalable infrastructure supporting ongoing education and potential international implementations

Drive Awake 2.0 (Phase 2) enhancement pursued through Swiss Road Safety Fund (FVS) funding application (April 2026). 30% budget increase enables 100% quality enhancement.

Drive Awake 2.0: The Enhanced Vision

Drive Awake 2.0 represents the project's full potential—a 30% budget increase that delivers 100% quality enhancement. While Drive Awake 1.0 (Phase 1) provides a complete, self-sustained baseline, Drive Awake 2.0 (Phase 2) transforms the project into an internationally scalable system with advanced infrastructure, pre-campaign community activation, and reach potential exceeding 1.2M views.

This enhanced implementation is pursued through the Swiss Road Safety Fund (FVS) application in April 2026. If funded, Drive Awake 2.0 enables interactive educational features, ambassador programs, operational formalization of Opening's structure, and a scalable framework for potential international implementations beyond 2028.

Investment: CHF 300K additional funding unlocks 2x impact potential and long-term sustainability.

Production Timeline

Q4 2025: Documentary production started, NAS pre-production initiated
Q1-Q2 2026: Platform development, NAS setup completion
Mid-2026 (giugno-luglio): Platform launch, community building starts
H2 2026 (luglio-agosto): Campaign pre-production (script, filming, editing)
Q3 2026 (settembre+): Campaign launch & distribution
Q4 2026-2027: Campaign continuation & performance tracking

Source Material

All campaign clips are derived from documentary production material (2025-2027), ensuring consistency in scientific messaging while adapting content for short-form, high-impact delivery. Unused documentary footage and extended interviews are repurposed for maximum reach and accessibility.

Drive Awake 2.0: Knowledge Production Ecosystem

Drive Awake 2.0 is the enhanced infrastructure vision that transforms the baseline project into an internationally scalable system. All research, interviews, and production material flows through a centralized archiving system (NAS) that distributes content across multiple channels: platform, campaign, community, and partner networks.

The project launches in Drive Awake 1.0 (Phase 1, 2025-2026) with a complete, self-sustained baseline: basic storage, educational platform, and campaign distribution delivering 20K views per clip. Drive Awake 2.0 (Phase 2, Q3 2026+, FVS funding-dependent) represents the enhanced implementation: interactive features, pre-campaign community building, and advanced infrastructure achieving 50K views per clip (+150% reach). A 30% budget increase enables 100% quality enhancement and international scaling potential.

1.0→2.0
Project Evaluation
2028
Drive Awake 1.0:
  • Standard assessment metrics
  • Manual data collection
  • Qualitative feedback
Drive Awake 2.0:
  • Automated tracking
  • Comprehensive analytics
  • Multi-channel assessment
1.0→2.0
Documentary Release
Late 2027
Drive Awake 1.0:
  • Festival circuit
  • TV and streaming
  • Standard distribution
Drive Awake 2.0:
  • Enhanced materials
  • International scalability
  • Multi-channel coordination
2.0
Public Campaign Awareness
24 clips · Q3 2026 launch
Drive Awake 2.0: Enhanced reach (50K vs 20K per clip) + advanced distribution
Drive Awake 1.0:
  • 24 clips production
  • Social media distribution
Drive Awake 2.0:
  • Enhanced production quality
  • Advanced distribution
  • Coordinated strategy
2.0
Digital Platform
Educational hub · Mid-2026 launch
Drive Awake 2.0: Interactive features + advanced engagement tools (Q3 2026+)
Drive Awake 1.0:
  • Educational hub
  • Digital archive
Drive Awake 2.0:
  • Interactive features
  • Advanced engagement tools
  • Q3 2026+ implementation
2.0
Partners Access
NAS network collaboration · 2025+
Institutional partners access research data via NAS. Open to new partnerships and additional funding sources.
Drive Awake 1.0:
  • Traditional partnerships
  • Email coordination
Drive Awake 2.0:
  • NAS network infrastructure
  • Technical editing support
  • Advanced integration
2.0
NAS Archive
Centralized storage & indexing · 2025+
Network Attached Storage: all interviews, research, footage and content systematically archived and indexed for long-term preservation and multi-channel distribution. Drive Awake 2.0: Advanced infrastructure for scalable international distribution.
Drive Awake 1.0:
  • Hard drive backup
  • Manual archiving
Drive Awake 2.0:
  • Network infrastructure
  • Systematic indexing
  • Multi-user access
  • International scalability
1.0→2.0
Documentary Production
Interviews · Research · Filming · 2025-2027
Drive Awake 1.0:
  • Production secured
  • Expert interviews
  • Standard workflow
Drive Awake 2.0:
  • NAS-integrated editing
  • Technical editing support
  • Enhanced workflow
1.0
Pre-production
Conceptual work · NAS setup · 2024–2026
Drive Awake 1.0:
  • Conceptual development
  • Research preparation
  • Partnership establishment
  • Foundation phase complete

Material Flow Logic

All research and production material flows into the NAS Archive, where it is systematically indexed. From this central repository, content is distributed across multiple channels: the Digital Platform receives educational material, Social Media builds community engagement, institutional partners (existing and potential) access research data via the NAS network, and the Campaign utilizes curated clips. Material not included in the documentary or campaign remains available on the platform. The documentary release (2027) and final evaluation (2028) close the first cycle, with the infrastructure remaining scalable for international implementations.

Platform Implementation

The digital infrastructure launches in Drive Awake 1.0 (Phase 1, mid-2026) with core educational hub, campaign distribution, and basic storage archive. This baseline is fully secured and delivers complete project value. Drive Awake 2.0 (Phase 2, Q3 2026+) enhancement would add interactive features, pre-campaign community alignment, and advanced engagement tools, pursued through a Swiss Road Safety Fund (FVS) application in April 2026 and open to additional institutional partnerships. Both phases ensure measurable impact with varying infrastructure depth and reach potential.

Impact Evaluation (2028)

The project's effectiveness will be rigorously assessed through multiple measurement approaches combining quantitative data and qualitative insights.

Public Surveys

Pre and post-campaign surveys measuring awareness levels, attitude shifts and self-reported behavioral changes across demographic groups. Baseline data collected before campaign launch (2026), with follow-up surveys measuring impact over time.

Traffic Data Analysis

Correlation analysis between campaign timing and accident statistics, working with Polizia Cantonale Ticino and national authorities. Focus on drowsy driving indicators and temporal patterns in accident data.

Platform Analytics

Digital engagement metrics including content reach, time spent, return visitors and geographic distribution patterns. Campaign clip performance tracking across social media platforms and partner networks.

Partner Feedback

Structured interviews with research institutions, policy organizations and industry partners assessing collaboration effectiveness and knowledge transfer. Evaluation of partnership outcomes and recommendations for future implementations.

Results will guide potential international implementations and inform evidence-based strategies for drowsy driving prevention campaigns in other regions. The evaluation framework is designed to provide actionable insights for stakeholders and support data-driven decision making.

IRM Zürich — New Scientific Collaboration

Since September 2025

Drive Awake collaborates with the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the University of Zurich (IRM Zürich), a leading research center in traffic medicine and forensic science.

This partnership focuses on understanding the complex relationship between fatigue, sleep deprivation, biomarkers and driving performance, contributing essential scientific perspectives to the Drive Awake documentary and platform.

  • Partnership with Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich
  • Research focus: fatigue, biomarkers, sleep deprivation and traffic medicine
  • Contributing to the scientific foundation of Drive Awake 2025-2027

International Outlook & Future Partnerships

Traffic safety and sleep science are global challenges transcending national borders. While Drive Awake begins in Switzerland, the project is designed as a modular, scalable model for international deployment.

Switzerland serves as the operational base and European research anchor, but drowsy driving demands global collaboration spanning scientific research, communication networks, industry innovation, and policy advocacy. The ecosystem structure creates a replicable model for international partnerships.

The 2028 evaluation will assess Swiss implementation and potential for international scaling across research networks, communication platforms, and road safety systems worldwide.

Drive Awake 2.0 Enhancement · Funding Dependent

Drive Awake 2.0: International Partnerships

Drive Awake 2.0 enables international scaling beyond the Swiss baseline implementation. Building on the replicable model established in Switzerland, potential collaboration areas span research networks, communication channels, industry innovation, and policy advocacy worldwide.

International partnerships framework (2026+, funding-dependent through FVS application or additional institutional support):

Potential Collaboration Areas

Research & Science
  • International sleep medicine laboratories
  • Prof. Pierre Philip, Sleep Expert at CHU Bordeaux
  • Consciousness and attention research institutions
  • Contemplative science centers (meditation, mindfulness)
  • Holistic research institutions (Southeast Asia)

Communication & Distribution
  • Science communication agencies (specialized in health/safety campaigns)
  • Film festivals & documentary distribution networks
  • Educational media production companies
  • Science podcasters and digital communicators
  • Public broadcasting partnerships (RAI, SRF, ARTE, etc.)
  • Documentary streaming platforms

Innovation & Industry
  • Toyota Woven City (Japan) - mobility innovation hub
  • Automotive research centers and safety technology companies
  • Smart mobility platforms and driver assistance systems
  • Transportation innovation laboratories

Policy & Road Safety
  • European Transport Safety Council (ETSC)
  • Global road safety platforms and advocacy networks
  • National traffic safety authorities
  • Public health organizations (WHO, national institutes)

Cultural & Cross-Disciplinary
  • La Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris (Q2 2026+ — new hub)
  • Mythology and consciousness symbolism research experts
  • Cultural institutions exploring awareness and attention
  • Cross-cultural studies on rest, attention and consciousness

Recent Updates

Show 2 more updates
  • September 2025
    IRM Zürich partnership officially starts, technical development of NAS Archive infrastructure begins
  • January 2026+
    Drive Awake 2.0 platform development initiated

Partners

Drive Awake collaborates with leading Swiss and international institutions across sleep medicine (EOC Neurocentro, IRM Zürich, European Sleep Foundation), traffic safety (ACS, RoadCross Schweiz, Polizia Cantonale Ticino), and creative production (Generative Center), with main funding from the Swiss Road Safety Fund (FVS).

These partnerships enable evidence-based research, scientific validation, public awareness campaigns, and scalable infrastructure for the platform launch (2026) and documentary release (2027).

Project Collaborators & Supporters

FVS EOC Polizia Cantonale ESF IRM ACS Generative Center RoadCross

Stay Updated

Follow the Project

Contact

Your email client will open to send your message

Stay Updated

Circadian-Adaptive Interface

This website implements circadian-responsive design: typography color temperature and visual elements automatically adapt based on your local time zone, reducing blue light exposure during evening hours to support healthy sleep patterns.

This approach follows the same circadian neuroscience principles central to Drive Awake's drowsy driving prevention research, demonstrating our commitment to evidence-based health practices.