Patent ID: 8812352

Claim:
A method of managing driving patterns by charging a variable toll based on individual driving behaviors, comprising: receiving proximity data detected at a first time within a time period P by a plurality of proximity sensor systems included in a plurality of vehicles, wherein said proximity data includes a one or more distances between a vehicle and a plurality of vehicles, and wherein a distance of said one or more distances is a measure of distance between said vehicle and another vehicle immediately in front of said vehicle; storing said proximity data as part of driving behavior data, wherein said driving behavior data includes other proximity data that includes said one or more distances measured at other times within said time period P; identifying N tailgating incidents within said time period P, wherein N≧1, wherein said identifying said N tailgating incidents is based on one or more determinations that said distance is less than a first predefined threshold value for a tailgating distance, and wherein said identifying said N tailgating incidents is based on said proximity data and said other proximity data; detecting that said vehicle arrives at a toll-charging station; a processor of a computer system determining a variable toll T by evaluating a function f, wherein said function f is a function of B and said N, wherein the value of f is based at least in part on said N, wherein said B is a base amount, and wherein a result of said evaluating said function f is a value of said T selected from the group consisting of a first value less than said B and a second value greater than said B; and charging a driver of said vehicle said variable toll T, wherein said charging said driver said variable toll T includes providing an incentive to said driver to encourage a first driving behavior if said result of said evaluating said function f is said first value and providing a disincentive to said driver to deter a second driving behavior if said result of said evaluating said function f is said second value.