Route safety score

A system for scoring route safety includes and input interface and a processor. The input interface is to receive data associated with a route segment. The data includes a speed data. The processor is to determine a segment safety score using a speed distribution. The speed distribution is based at least in part on the speed data.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically, it is difficult to determine how safe a route is that is taken while driving from point A to point B. Even more so in the event that a driver has no experience traveling the route.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A system for scoring route safety comprises an input interface to receive data associated with a route segment, wherein the data comprises a speed data, and a processor to determine a segment safety score using a speed distribution, wherein the speed distribution is based at least in part on the speed data. In some embodiments, the system for scoring route safety additionally comprises a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.

In some embodiments, a system for scoring route safety receives a set of speed data. The set of speed data comprises data describing vehicle speeds at road locations. In some embodiments, the speed data comprises data measured by one or more vehicle event recorders measuring vehicle speed. The system for scoring route safety receives map data including a set of route segments. In some embodiments, route segments comprise short road segments (e.g., one quarter mile, one kilometer, one mile, one block, one freeway exit, etc.). The system for scoring route safety determines a safety score associated with each route segment. In some embodiments, the safety score is based at least in part on a speed distribution of speed data within the route segment. In some embodiments, a speed distribution comprises a standard deviation of measured speeds within the route segment. In various embodiments, the safety score is based on event data, maneuver data, video data, lane change frequency data, climate data, topology data, road data, lane configuration data, speed data, or any other appropriate data.

In some embodiments, the system for scoring route safety receives a starting point and a destination point for a route and determines one or more possible routes to travel from the starting point to the destination point. The system determines the set of route segments comprised by each possible route and determines the route segment safety score associated with each route segment. A route safety score for each route can then be determined by combining the route segment safety scores associated with the route. The system for scoring route safety can then determine a preferred route of the one or more possible routes based at least in part on the route safety scores. In various embodiments, a route is determined based on route safety scores, route driving times, traffic, driver preferences, or any other appropriate criteria.

FIG. 1is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a system including a vehicle event recorder. In the example shown, vehicle event recorder102comprises a vehicle event recorder mounted in a vehicle (e.g., a car or truck). In some embodiments, vehicle event recorder102includes or is in communication with a set of sensors—for example, video recorders, audio recorders, accelerometers, gyroscopes, vehicle state sensors, proximity sensors, a global positioning system (e.g., GPS), outdoor temperature sensors, moisture sensors, laser line tracker sensors, or any other appropriate sensors. In various embodiments, vehicle state sensors comprise a speedometer, an accelerator pedal sensor, a brake pedal sensor, an engine revolutions per minute (e.g., RPM) sensor, an engine temperature sensor, a headlight sensor, an airbag deployment sensor, driver and passenger seat weight sensors, an anti-locking brake sensor, an engine exhaust sensor, a gear position sensor, a cabin equipment operation sensor, or any other appropriate vehicle state sensors. In some embodiments, vehicle event recorder102comprises a system for processing sensor data and detecting events. In some embodiments, vehicle event recorder102comprises map data. In some embodiments, vehicle event recorder102comprises a system for detecting risky behavior. In various embodiments, vehicle event recorder102is mounted on vehicle106in one of the following locations: the chassis, the front grill, the dashboard, the rear-view mirror, or any other appropriate location. In some embodiments, vehicle event recorder102comprises multiple units mounted in different locations in vehicle106. In some embodiments, vehicle event recorder102comprises a communications system for communicating with network100. In various embodiments, network100comprises a wireless network, a wired network, a cellular network, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network, a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network, a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) network, a Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) network, a local area network, a wide area network, the Internet, or any other appropriate network. In some embodiments, network100comprises multiple networks, changing over time and location. In some embodiments, different networks comprising network100comprise different bandwidth cost (e.g., a wired network has a very low cost, a wireless Ethernet connection has a moderate cost, a cellular data network has a high cost). In some embodiments, network100has a different cost at different times (e.g., a higher cost during the day and a lower cost at night). Vehicle event recorder102communicates with vehicle data server104via network100. Vehicle event recorder102is mounted to vehicle106. In various embodiments, vehicle106comprises a car, a truck, a commercial vehicle, or any other appropriate vehicle. Vehicle data server104comprises a vehicle data server for collecting events and risky behavior detected by vehicle event recorder102. In some embodiments, vehicle data server104comprises a system for collecting data from multiple vehicle event recorders. In some embodiments, vehicle data server104comprises a system for analyzing vehicle event recorder data. In some embodiments, vehicle data server104comprises a system for displaying vehicle event recorder data. In some embodiments, vehicle data server104is located at a home station (e.g., a shipping company office, a taxi dispatcher, a truck depot, etc.). In various embodiments, vehicle data server104is located at a colocation center (e.g., a center where equipment, space, and bandwidth are available for rental), at a cloud service provider, or any at other appropriate location. In some embodiments, events recorded by vehicle event recorder102are downloaded to vehicle data server104when vehicle106arrives at the home station. In some embodiments, vehicle data server104is located at a remote location. In some embodiments, events recorded by vehicle event recorder102are downloaded to vehicle data server104wirelessly. In some embodiments, a subset of events recorded by vehicle event recorder102is downloaded to vehicle data server104wirelessly. In some embodiments, vehicle event recorder102comprises a system for determining risky events.

FIG. 2is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a vehicle event recorder. In some embodiments, vehicle event recorder200ofFIG. 2comprises vehicle event recorder102ofFIG. 1. In the example shown, vehicle event recorder200comprises processor202. Processor202comprises a processor for controlling the operations of vehicle event recorder200, for reading and writing information on data storage204, for communicating via wireless communications interface206, and for reading data via sensor interface208. In various embodiments, processor202comprises a processor for determining a vehicle characterization, determining a vehicle identifier, determining a maintenance item, or for any other appropriate purpose. Data storage204comprises a data storage (e.g., a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a nonvolatile memory, a flash memory, a hard disk, or any other appropriate data storage). In various embodiments, data storage204comprises a data storage for storing instructions for processor202, vehicle event recorder data, vehicle event data, sensor data, video data, driver scores, or any other appropriate data. In various embodiments, communications interfaces206comprises one or more of a GSM interface, a CDMA interface, a LTE interface, a WiFi™ interface, an Ethernet interface, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, a Bluetooth™ interface, an Internet interface, or any other appropriate interface. Sensor interface208comprises an interface to one or more vehicle event recorder sensors. In various embodiments, vehicle event recorder sensors comprise an exterior video camera, an exterior still camera, an interior video camera, an interior still camera, a microphone, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an outdoor temperature sensor, a moisture sensor, a laser line tracker sensor, vehicle state sensors, or any other appropriate sensors. In various embodiments, vehicle state sensors comprise a speedometer, an accelerator pedal sensor, a brake pedal sensor, an engine revolutions per minute (RPM) sensor, an engine temperature sensor, a headlight sensor, an airbag deployment sensor, driver and passenger seat weight sensors, an anti-locking brake sensor, an engine exhaust sensor, a gear position sensor, a turn signal sensor, a cabin equipment operation sensor, or any other appropriate vehicle state sensors. In some embodiments, sensor interface208comprises an on-board diagnostics (OBD) bus (e.g., society of automotive engineers (SAE) J1939, J1708/J1587, OBD-II, CAN BUS, etc.). In some embodiments, vehicle event recorder200communicates with vehicle state sensors via the OBD bus. In some embodiments, vehicle event recorder200communicates with a vehicle data server via communications interfaces206. In various embodiments, vehicle event recorder200transmits vehicle state sensor data, accelerometer data, speed data, maneuver data, audio data, video data, event data, or any other appropriate data to the vehicle data server. In some embodiments, vehicle event recorder200receives an indication of a route from the vehicle data server. In some embodiments, vehicle event recorder200receives a set of route segment safety scores from the vehicle data server and determines a route based at least in part on the set of route segment safety scores.

FIG. 3is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a vehicle data server. In some embodiments, vehicle data server300comprises vehicle data server104ofFIG. 1. In the example shown, vehicle data server300comprises processor302. In various embodiments, processor302comprises a processor for determining a route, determining a set of route segments, determining a route segment safety score, collecting speed data, determining a speed distribution, or for any other appropriate purpose. Data storage304comprises a data storage (e.g., a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a nonvolatile memory, a flash memory, a hard disk, or any other appropriate data storage). In various embodiments, data storage304comprises a data storage for storing instructions for processor302, vehicle event recorder data, vehicle event data, sensor data, video data, map data, machine learning algorithm data, or any other appropriate data. In various embodiments, communications interfaces306comprises one or more of a GSM interface, a CDMA interface, a WiFi interface, an Ethernet interface, a USB interface, a Bluetooth interface, an Internet interface, a fiber optic interface, or any other appropriate interface. In various embodiments, vehicle data server300receives events, maneuvers, data, or any other appropriate information from one or more vehicle event recorders. In some embodiments, vehicle data server300determines a route based at least in part on a route safety score and communicates the route to one or more vehicle event recorders. In some embodiments, vehicle data server300determines a set of route segment safety scores and communicates the set of route segment safety scores to one or more vehicle event recorders.

FIG. 4is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of vehicles on a road segment. In the example shown, four vehicles are traveling on a freeway. In some embodiments, vehicles typically move at approximately the same speed. In some embodiments, vehicles typically move at different speeds. In the example shown, vehicle400moves at 65 MPH on the freeway, vehicle402moves at 60 MPH, vehicle404moves at 55 MPH, and vehicle406moves at 40 MPH. In some embodiments, each vehicle comprises a vehicle event recorder that reports its speed to a vehicle data server. In some embodiments, a vehicle data server collects speed data from vehicles traveling on the road segment to determine a speed distribution. In some embodiments, a speed distribution comprises a standard deviation of speed data. In various embodiments, a speed distribution comprises a speed distribution of all vehicles on the road segment at a given time, a speed distribution of typical vehicle speed across time, a speed distribution of typical vehicle speed across the road segment, a speed distribution of all speed data recorded for the road segment, or any other appropriate speed distribution.

FIG. 5is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a process for determining a route based at least in part on a safety score. In some embodiments, the process ofFIG. 5is executed by a vehicle data server (e.g., vehicle data server104ofFIG. 1). In some embodiments, the process ofFIG. 5is executed by a vehicle event recorder (e.g., vehicle event recorder102ofFIG. 1). In the example shown, in500, a starting point and a destination point are received. In various embodiments, a starting point and a destination point are received from a driver, from a system administrator, from a route plan, or from any other appropriate source. In502, a set of possible routes is determined. In various embodiments, the set of possible routes comprises all possible routes, all possible routes under a timing threshold, all possible routes within a desired region, or any other appropriate set of possible routes. In504, a next route of the set of possible routes is selected. In some embodiments, the next route comprises the first route. In506, a route safety score for the route is determined. In508, it is determined whether there are more routes (e.g., of the set of possible routes). In the event there are more routes, control passes to504. In the event there are not more routes, control passes to510. In510, a route of the set of possible routes is selected. In some embodiments, the route with the route safety score indicating the route is safest is selected. In some embodiments, a lower route safety score indicates a safer route, and the route with the lowest route safety score is selected. In various embodiments, the route is selected based on route safety scores, route driving times, traffic, driver preferences, or any other appropriate criteria.

FIG. 6is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a process for determining a route safety score for a route. In some embodiments, the process ofFIG. 6implements506ofFIG. 5. In the example shown, in600, a route is received. In some embodiments, a route comprises a start point, an end point, and a path from the start point to the end point. In602, a set of route segments associated with the route is determined. In some embodiments, the set of route segments comprises the set of route segments along the path from the start point to the end point. In604, a next route segment of the set of route segments is selected. In some embodiments, the first route segment of the set of route segments is selected. In606, a route segment safety score for the route segment is determined. In some embodiments, determining a route segment safety score for the route segment comprises determining a route segment safety score using speed data. In some embodiments, determining a route segment safety score using speed data is performed by a vehicle data server. The vehicle data server stores determined route segment safety scores in a route segment safety score database. In some embodiments, the route segment safety score database is transmitted to a vehicle event recorder and the process ofFIG. 6is performed by a vehicle event recorder. In some embodiments, determining a route segment safety score comprises looking up a route segment safety score for the route segment in a safety score database. In608, it is determined whether there are more route segments (e.g., of the set of route segments). In the event it is determined that there are more route segments, control passes to604. In the event it is determined that there are not more route segments, control passes to610. In610, the route segment safety scores are combined to determine a route safety score. In some embodiments, combining the route segment safety scores comprises adding the route segment safety scores.

FIG. 7is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a process for determining a route segment safety score using speed data. In some embodiments, the process ofFIG. 7implements606ofFIG. 6. In some embodiments, the process ofFIG. 7is executed by a vehicle data server. In the example shown, in700, a route segment is received. In some embodiments, a route segment comprises an indication of a route segment (e.g., a route segment indicator). In702, data associated with the route segment is received, wherein the data comprises a speed data. In some embodiments, receiving data associated with the route segment comprises retrieving vehicle data from a vehicle database. In some embodiments, data is associated with a plurality of vehicles. In some embodiments, data comprises data received at a plurality of locations within the segment. In some embodiments, data comprises data received at a plurality of times of day. In various embodiments, data comprises one or more of the following (e.g., in addition to a speed data): events, maneuvers, video data, lane change frequency, climate data, topology data, road data, number of lanes, or any other appropriate data. In704, a route segment safety score is determined using a speed distribution, wherein the speed distribution is based at least in part on the speed data. In some embodiments, the speed data comprises a set of vehicle speeds (e.g., vehicle speeds received from vehicle event recorders), and the speed distribution is determined from the speed data (e.g., by determining the standard deviation of the speed data). In some embodiments, the speed data comprises the speed distribution.

FIG. 8is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a process for determining a route segment safety score using a speed distribution. In some embodiments, the process ofFIG. 8implements704ofFIG. 7. In the example shown, in800, a speed distribution standard deviation is determined. In some embodiments, a speed distribution standard deviation is determined from speed data using the well-known formula (e.g., range or standard deviation or function of maximum speed and minimum speed, etc.). In some embodiments, a speed distribution standard deviation is received. In802, a segment safety score is determined based at least in part on the speed distribution standard deviation. In some embodiments, determining a segment safety score comprises scaling the speed distribution standard deviation by a constant (e.g., multiplying by 100). In some embodiments, the segment safety score is based at least in part on other data (e.g., events, maneuvers, video data, lane change frequency, climate data, topology data, road data, number of lanes, etc.). In some embodiments, the segment safety score comprises a linear combination of the speed distribution standard deviation and other data. In some embodiments, a higher safety score indicates that the route segment is less safe.