A system for identifying an occupant of a vehicle as an authorized user of said vehicle, said system comprising: a registered user database having at least one registered user profile (34(n)) stored therein, said at least one registered user profile corresponding to a user authorized to access and/or operate said vehicle; a plurality of recognition modules (26, 28, 30), each of said plurality of recognition modules configured to receive data from an associated one of a plurality of sensors (20, 22, 24) and to identify one or more occupant characteristics based on said data, each of said plurality of recognition modules being configured to identify a registered user profile stored in said registered user database having data corresponding to said one or more occupant characteristics and to determine a confidence level associated with said identified registered user profile; and an identity manager configured to receive said identified registered user profile and corresponding confidence level from each of said plurality of recognition modules and to determine a global assessment of an identity of said occupant based on an evaluation of said identified user profile and corresponding confidence level from each of said plurality of recognition modules, said global assessment comprises an overall confidence level, wherein said identity manager is configured to determine that said occupant is a registered user of said vehicle based on said overall confidence level; wherein, said identity manager is configured to allow occupant to operate said vehicle when said occupant is determined to be a registered user; and wherein said identity manager is configured to restrict occupant from operating said vehicle when said occupant is determined not to be a registered user. a registered user database having at least one registered user profile (34(n)) stored therein, said at least one registered user profile corresponding to a user authorized to access and/or operate said vehicle; a plurality of recognition modules (26, 28, 30), each of said plurality of recognition modules configured to receive data from an associated one of a plurality of sensors (20, 22, 24) and to identify one or more occupant characteristics based on said data, each of said plurality of recognition modules being configured to identify a registered user profile stored in said registered user database having data corresponding to said one or more occupant characteristics and to determine a confidence level associated with said identified registered user profile; and an identity manager configured to receive said identified registered user profile and corresponding confidence level from each of said plurality of recognition modules and to determine a global assessment of an identity of said occupant based on an evaluation of said identified user profile and corresponding confidence level from each of said plurality of recognition modules, said global assessment comprises an overall confidence level, wherein said identity manager is configured to determine that said occupant is a registered user of said vehicle based on said overall confidence level; wherein, said identity manager is configured to allow occupant to operate said vehicle when said occupant is determined to be a registered user; and wherein said identity manager is configured to restrict occupant from operating said vehicle when said occupant is determined not to be a registered user.