IL182806A

IL182806A - System for monitoring the performance of a new driver and an escort thereof including a driving teacher

Info

Publication number: IL182806A
Application number: IL182806A
Authority: IL
Original assignee: Hilik Rosenblum; Uri Rosenblum; Tova Rosenblum; Shahar Hamou
Priority date: 2007-04-26
Filing date: 2007-04-26
Publication date: 2012-10-31
Also published as: WO2008132726A1; IL182806A0

Description

u uy? nnri ^ID ,τ?ω ΠΙΤΡΏ Π "PLUI ωτπ jm τφ9ηπ ma1]*? rrnun SYSTEM FOR MONITORING THE PERFORMANCE OF A NEW DRIVER AND AN ESCORT THEREOF INCLUDING A DRIVING TEACHER SYSTEM FOR MONITORING THE PERFORMANCE OF A NEW DRIVER AND AN ESCORT THEREOF INCLUDING A DRIVING TEACHER Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the field of vehicle data recorders. More particularly, the invention relates to a vehicle data recorder by which the performance of a new driver and an escort thereof can be monitored.

Background of the Invention According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) [http7/www.nhtsa.dot.gov], motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15 to 20 year olds. Sixteen-yearold drivers have a crash rate that is three times greater than 17-year-old drivers and five times greater than 18-year old drivers. The factors contributing to these higher crash rates include lack of driving experience, inadequate driving skills, excessive driving during higher risk hours such as during the nighttime, risk-taking behavior, poor driving judgment, drinking alcohol while driving, and distractions from other teenage passengers.

To address these factors that contribute to higher crash rates, the NHTSA has developed a graduated driver licensing (GDL) program that prolongs the learning process for new drivers. The licensing program consists of three stages- l) a learner's permit indicating that the driver has completed basic driver training, successfully passed knowledge tests including rules of the road, is accompanied by an adult licensed escort within the vehicle when the new driver is operating the vehicle, and remains crash and conviction free for at least six months." 2) an intermediate provisional license indicating that the driver has completed the first stage, has passed a driving test, has completed advanced driver education including decision making and risk education, is accompanied by an adult licensed escort within the vehicle when the new driver is operating the vehicle during late-night hours, has supervised practice, and remains crash and conviction free for at least 12 consecutive months; and 3) a fully qualified driver's license indicating that the driver has completed the second stage and that he need not be accompanied by an escort.

Although the GDL has been shown to reduce the number of crashes within which new drivers are involved, the success of the GDL is contingent upon successful parental supervision while the new driver is operating the vehicle. Many adult escorts, however, fail to supervise the new driver and some escorts do not even view the road. As a result, new drivers may operate the vehicle in an irresponsible fashion, often committing traffic violations, and nevertheless receive a fully qualified driver's license. Also, new drivere may receive a fully qualified driver's license even though they have not received adequate experience in varying driving conditions, such as nighttime driving, city traffic, highways, and mountainous terrain. Some new drivers drive infrequently, or do not drive at all, during the second stage so that they will remain crash and conviction free. Thus some new drivers will receive a fully qualified driver's license without having received adequate driving experience and guidance, and therefore will be able to drive without an escort even though they have inadequate driving skills.

Numerous prior art systems disclose vehicle data recorders. Some systems, for example, US 7,117, 075 and US 2006/0212195, acquire data related to miles driven, speed, acceleration, deceleration, steering anomalies, global position, direction, transmission status, and alcohol usage. None of these systems are capable of determining the performance of an escort in terms of supervising the driving behavior of, or improving the skills and judgment of, a new driver.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for monitoring the performance of an escort in terms of supervising the driving behavior of, or improving the skills and judgment of, a new driver.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a system for monitoring the performance of an escort in terms of supervising a new driver in varying driving conditions.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a system that a new driver is accompanied by an escort for a predetermined number of cumulative driving hours.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a system for monitoring the performance of a new driver and of an escort thereof, comprising a biometric reader for identifying a new driver and an escort thereof, means for detecting instantaneous vehicular data including instantaneous position and speed, and a system computer in data communication with said instantaneous vehicular data detecting means and with said biometric identification reader.

As referred to herein, the term "new driver" means any driver that has not yet received a fully qualified driver's license and is required by law to be accompanied by an escort while driving, such as during basic driver training, after receiving a learner's permit, or after receiving a provisional license. A "new driver performance" refers to the driving proficiency demonstrated by a new driver during a given trip. An "escort" means an adult, including a driving teacher, having a fully qualified driver's license who has agreed to accompany a new driver, so that the latter will increase his driving skills and judgment. An "escort performance" refers to the level of supervision or guidance demonstrated by the escort during said given trip.

Said system computer is adapted to retrieve road-specific data corresponding to said instantaneous position from a map database and to determine new driver and escort performance data based on said instantaneous vehicular data and said road-specific data, said new driver and escort performance data being storable in a performance database and retrievable by representatives of a motor vehicle authority. Data, such as new driver data, escort performance data, and road-specific data, is permanently storable in the memory of the system computer, to allow the system computer to be transferred from one motor vehicle to another.

The new driver performance data is based on a number or frequency of driving violations committed by the new driver during a trip and on predetermined driver performance defined criteria. The system computer is adapted to generate a new driver performance rating from the new driver performance data, said new driver performance rating being indicative of a new driver performance relative to a plurality of new drivers.

The escort performance data is generated by means of escort defined performance criteria, said escort performance data being reflective of an instantaneous new driver performance rating, of a change in the new driver performance rating, and of exposure of the new driver to predetermined driving conditions. When the escort is a driving teacher, the predetermined driving conditions are those conditions specified by law to which a new driver is required to be exposed. The system computer is adapted to generate an escort performance rating from the escort performance data, said escort performance rating being indicative of an escort performance relative to a plurality of escorts.

In one aspect, the system computer is adapted to generate an alert signal when an identified escort has a performance rating less than a predetermined value.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the system further comprises a motor vehicle authority (MVA) server in communication via a data network with the system computer, said MVA server comprising a licensing database in which is stored data relating to license status of drivers, a biometric database in which is stored data relating to biometric traits of various new drivers and escorts, the map database, and a backup database in which is stored performance data transmitted thereto from the system computer performance database.

The system may also comprise a vehicle computer in data communication with the system computer and a neutralization device in data communication with said vehicle computer for preventing ignition of a vehicle engine, the system computer adapted to generate a disable signal when an identified escort has a performance rating less than a predetermined value and to transmit said disable signal to said vehicle computer, thereby activating said neutralization device.

The biometric identification reader comprises at least one sensor for detecting a biometric trait of a passenger, a biometric trait being selected from the group of a fingerprint scanner, a hand geometry scanner, a vein scanner, a voiceprint system, and a combination thereof In one aspect, the biometric trait is periodically detected during the course of a trip.

In one aspect, the biometric identification reader comprises two sensors by which a corresponding biometric trait of the new driver and escort, respectively, is periodically detected during the course of a trip, to ensure an unchanging seating arrangement of the new driver and escort.

In one aspect, the instantaneous vehicular data detecting means comprises a global positioning system.

The system may be embodied by a kit that is installable within a vehicle upon demand and detachable therefrom when no longer needed, and powered by a cigarette lighter of the vehicle.

Brief Description of the DrawingB In the drawings- • Fig. 1 is a block drawing of a system for monitoring the performance of a new driver and escort thereof, according to one embodiment of the invention'.

• Fig. 2 is a block drawing of another embodiment of an escort performance monitoring system; and ■ Fig. 3 is a flow chart of a method for monitoring the performance of a driving teacher.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments The present invention is a system for monitoring the performance of a new driver and of an escort accompanying said new driver. A new driver performance is indicative of the number or frequency of driving violations or crashes committed by the new driver, and of driving experience in varying driving conditions, such as nighttime driving, city traffic, highways, and mountainous terrain. An escort performance is indicative of the guidance provided by the escort. That is, an escort exhibits good performance if the new driver does not violate any driving violations or is not involved in any accidents. Good escort performance is also exhibited if a new driver commits a driving violation, or is about to commit a driving violation, and then gradually improves the driving performance, indicating that the escort was influential in the improved driving performance. An escort who does not exhibit good performance is generally discouraged from accompanying a new driver, so that the driver performance may be improved, thereby avoiding life-endangering collisions or accidents.

Fig. 1 illustrates an escort monitoring system generally designated by numeral 10, according to one embodiment of the invention. System 10 can be a kit which is installed upon demand, e.g. during those periods during which the driver is a new driver and the monitoring system of the invention is required by a motor vehicle authority, or may be integrated with the electrical system of the vehicle as the latter is installed.

System 10 comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) 20 provided for indicating the instantaneous speed of the vehicle as well known to those skilled in the art, an on-board sensor 28 for detecting the instantaneous speed of the vehicle, a computer 25, such as a laptop computer, a computer attached to a wall or base of the vehicle, or any other microprocessor-based device for receiving instantaneous vehicular data, including position data from GPS 20 and speed data from sensor 28, and converting the received vehicular data into data suitable for determining the performance of the new driver and escort thereof, and biometric identification reader 30 for identifying the identification of the driver and escort. Any of GPS 20, computer 25, sensor 28, and biometric reader 30 may be powered by the 12V voltage source of the cigarette lighter of the vehicle.

It will be appreciated that GPS 20 may also constitute the means for detecting the instantaneous vehicular speed. If so desired, GPS 20 may be housed within a casing of computer 25.

Computer 25 has a local performance data database 27, in which are stored new driver performance (NDP) data 31 and escort performance (EP) data 32. Computer 25 also has an internal clock 23 for determining whether the driver is engaged in daytime driving or nighttime driving and for determining the instantaneous vehicular speed if GPS 20 does not generate such data, and a transceiver 19 for receiving data from electronic map database 26 stored in a server 37 of a motor vehicle authority (MVA) via a wireless communication network such as a cellular network and for transmitting stored performance data to backup database 39 of server 37. In electronic map database 26 is stored road-specific data, i.e. an electronic roadmap of various geographical locations, selected traffic regulations such as the location of traffic lights, speed limit, and whether the road on which the vehicle is traveling is designated as being a one -directional or two-directional road. A biometric database 49 in which are stored identifiable biometric traits of various new drivers and escorts is also stored in MVA server 49. If so desired, computer 25 has a local biometric database in which are stored traits of selected new drivers and escorts.

After the instantaneous position of the vehicle is received from GPS 20, computer 25 retrieves road-specific data from map database 26 and generates a map corresponding to said instantaneous position. The vehicular data received from GPS 20 is then superimposed on the generated map and compared with the retrieved road- specific data, after which microprocessor 15 of computer 25 deterrnines whether the vehicle has violated a traffic regulation in accordance with predetermined driver performance defined criteria. As the vehicle continues to travel, computer 25 stores all driver performance data 31 in performance data database 27. The driver performance data 31 includes periods of compliance with traffic regulations, periods of violations thereof, and events during which the vehicle was involved in a collision. Computer 25 is preferably housed in a sturdy impenetrable casing that can withstand the impact of a collision, so that performance data can be retrieved and reviewed after the collision for analysis.

Escort performance data 32 is generated simultaneously with the recording and storage of driver performance data. AH driver performance data 31 is associated with a specific escort and stored in performance data database 27. An escort performance is rated upon conclusion of the trip in which the new driver and escort participated, according to predetermined escort defined performance criteria. Some of the escort defined performance criteria are objective criteria, i.e. whether the driver performance data is representative of an irresponsible driving event, i.e. a violation of a traffic regulation or participation in a collision. Some of the escort defined performance criteria are relative in the sense that the driver performance has markedly and immediately improved, as a result of the escort guidance. For example, good escort performance is exhibited when the orientation of the vehicle is corrected immediately after being oriented in the wrong direction of a one-way road. When the escort is a driving teacher, the escort defined performance criteria include those conditions specified by law to which a new driver is required to be exposed. For example, in Israel a new driver is required to undergo 28 driving lessons, during which the driving teacher is required to have the new driver be exposed to 52 predetermined driving conditions. A driving teacher will receive a poor escort defined performance criteria if these new driver criteria are not fulfilled. If the escort rating is consistently poor, computer 25 may generate a signal, e.g. an audible or visual signal, which is indicative that the escort should be replaced.

Representatives of a motor vehicle authority may retrieve the stored performance data during predetermined examination periods or during an unanticipated spot check. The new driver will not be able to receive a fully qualified driver's license if he was accompanied by an escort who received a rating during a stage of a licensing program that was not sufficiently high. Thus a new driver will be encouraged to replace his escort if the escort rating is not sufficiently high.

Driver performance data 31 may also be indicative of whether the new driver has received driving experience in various predetermined driving conditions, in order to improve his driving skills and risk evaluation skills in these driving conditions. If so desired by the motor vehicle authority, the new driver may not be able to receive a fully qualified driver's license if he has not received driving experience in various driving conditions, or if he has not driven a predetermined cumulative number of hours, the minimum duration of each driving session being a predetermined value, and a predetermined cumulative minimum distance. The ability to determine whether the new driver has received driving experience in various predetermined driving conditions also influences escort performance data 32, particularly when the escort is a driving teacher. A driving teacher will receive a poor rating if the new driver is not exposed to e.g. city driving or nighttime driving conditions. If a driving teacher continues to receive a poor rating, his teaching license is liable to be revoked.

Biometric reader 30, which is in communication with computer 25, identifies both the driver and escort, and therefore enables performance data database 27 to categorize and store performance data with respect to the identified new driver and escort. Biometric reader 30 comprises at least one sensor for detecting a physical characteristic of the passenger, such as a fingerprint scanner, a hand geometry scanner, a vein scanner, and a voiceprint system, as well known to those skilled in the art. The sensor converts the detected biometric trait into digital information, and the converted digital information is compared with biometric data stored in biometric database 49. If the converted digital information matches the stored biometric data, the driver performance data and escort performance data that will be received will be associated with, and stored with respect to, the identified new driver and escort, respectively. The new driver and escort are requested to have the biometric trait periodically detected by means of biometric reader 30 during the course of the trip, for the purpose of authentication. Biometric reader 30 may comprise two sensors 41A and 42B, so that the biometric trait of the driver and escort may be detected by a different sensor, to ensure that the seating arrangement of the driver and escort remains identical to that which was detected at the beginning of the trip.

Fig. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which operation of the vehicle is prevented when the identified escort is found to have a poor performance rating. Escort monitoring system 10 comprises GPS 20, computer 25, biometric identification reader 30, and vehicle computer 48. Output port 43 of computer 25 is in data communication with data exchange port 54 of vehicle computer 48. When processor 15 of computer 25 determines that the identified escort has a poor performance rating, a disable signal is transmitted through output port 43. Vehicle computer 48 receives the disable signal from output port 43 and activates in response a suitable neutralization device 58 of the vehicle, which is adapted to prevent operation of the vehicle, so that the new driver will not be endangered when accompanied by an escort that may not adequately supervise the driving behavior of the new driver. The neutralization device 58 may be an immobilizer of an anti-theft protection system to prevent the ignition of the vehicle or a device which prevents the activation of the fuel injection system. A disable signal may be generated by processor 15 when EP data 32 stored in performance database 27 is indicative of a poor rating, as described hereinabove. Alternatively, a disable signal may be generated when licensing database 51 of MVA server 37 transmits a signal to computer 25 indicating that the escort has committed a driving violation or has been found to be responsible for a collision and therefore is not qualified for guiding the new driver.

Fig. 3 illustrates a method for monitoring the performance of a driving teacher. If the new driver is one that has not yet begun his basic driver training and a characteristic biometric trait thereof has not been stored in the biometric database, the biometric reader detects a selected biometric trait of the new driver in step 61. The driving teacher then enters the name of the new driver and presses a suitable button of an escort monitoring system computer, so that the detected trait will be converted to digital information, and transmitted by the transceiver of the computer to the biometric database of the MVA server in step 63, whereupon the detected trait will be associated with the new driver. The biometric reader then detects a selected biometric trait of the driving teacher in step 65. The detected biometric trait of the driving teacher is transmitted to the biometric database, associated with the name of the driving teacher, and compared with the stored biometric trait thereof in step 67. If the detected and stored biometric traits are compatible, an enable signal is transmitted from the system computer to the vehicle computer in step 69, to allow the vehicle engine to be ignited. However, if the detected and stored biometric traits are not compatible, or if the MVA server retrieves data from the licensing database indicating that the driving teacher has a poor performance rating, the system computer will generate a disable signal in step 71 and transmit the same to the vehicle computer, whereupon the neutralization device will be activated in step 73 and vehicle ignition will be prevented.

As the vehicle is in transit, the system computer receives the instantaneous location and speed of the vehicle in step 75, and compares the same with road-specific data in step 77 which is retrieved from the map database in response to the instantaneous vehicle location. The internal clock of the system computer determines the cumulative driving hours of the new driver in step 79 and stores this data in the performance database. The cumulative driving hours may be subdivided into daytime or nighttime driving hours, city driving hours and highway driving hours as determined by means of the road-specific data, or any other division required by the motor vehicle authority. The new driver performance, which is based on predetermined driver performance-defined criteria and periods of compliance with, or violation of, traffic regulations, is then determined in step 81. Upon conclusion of a predetermined number of cumulative driving hours during which the new driver was accompanied by the driving teacher, the system computer transmits in step 85 a signal to the licensing database of the MVA server, which is indicative that the new driver has completed the required number of driving hours and is eligible for a driver's permit.

Simultaneously with the recording of the new driver performance, the system computer also determines the driving teacher performance in step 89. The system computer divides the trip for which the driving teacher is escorting the new driver into different segments, wherein each segment is representative of a different driving condition. The driving teacher performance is based on the total hours that the new driver has been exposed to each of various predetermined driving conditions, and whether the new driver has violated a traffic regulation. The system computer may also determine whether the new driver demonstrates an improvement in driver responsibility relative to a previous trip, as defined by predetermined criteria, and the driving teacher performance may be based on the degree of new driver improvement, which is indicative of the guidance provided by the driving teacher. Upon conclusion of a trip, the driving teacher performance is determined, stored in the on-board performance database, and transmitted to the backup database of the MVA server in step 95 which is in communication with the licensing database thereof.

It will be appreciated that this method may be used for monitoring the performance of other escorts as well that accompany a given new driver during other stages of a driver licensing program. The escort performance rating may be transmitted to the backup database of the MVA server, and a new driver may not be able to receive a fully qualified driver's license if he was accompanied by an escort who received a rating during a stage of a licensing program that was not sufficiently high.

While some embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be apparent that the invention can be carried out with many modifications, variations and adaptations, and with the use of numerous equivalents or alternative solutions that are within the scope of persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

Claims

21399/06

1. A system for monitoring the performance of a new driver and of an escort thereof, comprising a biometric reader for identifying a new driver and an escort thereof, means for detecting instantaneous vehicular data including instantaneous position and speed, and a system computer in data communication with said instantaneous vehicular data detecting means and with said biometric identification reader, wherein said system computer is adapted to retrieve road-specific data corresponding to said instantaneous position from a map database and to determine new driver and escort performance data based on said instantaneous vehicular data and said road- specific data, said new driver and escort performance data being storable in a performance database and retrievable by representatives of a motor vehicle authority.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the new driver performance data is based on a number or frequency of driving violations committed by the new driver during a trip and on predetermined driver performance defined criteria.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the system computer is adapted to generate a new driver performance rating from the new driver performance 21399/06 - 20 - data, said new driver performance rating being indicative of a new driver performance relative to a plurality of new drivers.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the escort performance data is generated by means of escort defined performance criteria, said escort performance data being reflective of an instantaneous new driver performance rating, of a change in the new driver performance rating, and of exposure of the new driver to predetermined driving conditions.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the system computer is adapted to generate an escort performance rating from the escort performance data, said escort performance rating being indicative of an escort performance relative to a plurality of escorts.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the system computer is adapted to generate an alert signal when an identified escort has a performance rating less than a predetermined value.

7. The system according to claim 5, further comprising a motor vehicle authority (MVA server in communication via a data network with the system computer, said MVA server comprising a licensing database in which is stored data relating to license status of drivers, a biometric database in which is stored 21399/06 - 21 - data relating to biometric traits of various new drivers and escorts, the map database, and a backup database in which is stored performance data transmitted thereto from the system computer performance database.

8. The system according to claim 7, further comprising a vehicle computer in data communication with the system computer and a neutralization device in data communication with said vehicle computer for preventing ignition of a vehicle engine, the system computer adapted to generate a disable signal when an identified escort has a performance rating less than a predetermined value and to transmit said disable signal to said vehicle computer, thereby activating said neutralization device.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the biometric identification reader comprises at least one sensor for detecting a biometric trait of a passenger, a biometric trait being selected from the group of a fingerprint scanner, a hand geometry scanner, a vein scanner, a voiceprint system, and a combination thereof.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the biometric trait is periodically detected during the course of a trip. 21399/06

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the biometric identification reader comprises two sensors by which a corresponding biometric trait of the new driver and escort, respectively, is periodically detected during the course of a trip, to ensure an unchanging seating arrangement of the new driver and escort.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the instantaneous vehicular data detecting means comprises a global positioning system.

13. The system according to claim 1, which is a kit that is installable within a vehicle upon demand and detachable therefrom when no longer needed.

14. The system according to claim 13, which is powered by a cigarette lighter of the vehicle.

15. A system for monitoring the performance of a new driver and of an escort thereof, substantially as described and illustrated.