Patent ID: 7822521

Claim:
A method for evaluating driving situations, comprising: ascertaining and evaluating driving-state data, the driving-state data being evaluated and numerically represented with regard to risk potential for vehicle occupants, an overall risk potential being determined by at least one of ascertaining and estimating the current acting forces and the forces to be expected; wherein the overall risk potential is modularly made up of a first partial risk potential and a second partial risk potential, the overall risk potential being calculated as an abstract numerical value in a range of 0 to 1; wherein the first partial risk potential is the risk to an occupant as a result of the current forces and the first partial risk potential is determined from at least one of a first risk variable representing a transverse loading, a second risk variable representing a longitudinal loading, and a third risk variable representing a speed; and wherein the second partial risk potential is an anticipated risk due to the forces to be expected, and the second partial risk potential is determined from at least one of a fourth risk variable representing a steering risk and a fifth risk variable representing a steering tendency.