Computerised back-seat driver
How well do you drive? Probably better than average, or so you might think. Now researchers at the University of Nagoya
in Japan have come up with a way to tell for sure.
They have designed a software system that collects data about the way you drive ? your speed, distance from other vehicles, how often and how much you press the accelerator or brake and how violently you turn the steering wheel. It also creates a mathematical model of the way you drive that can be compared with other drivers? to tell how good you really are behind the wheel. It can also detect when you're driving more recklessly than normal, presumably so you can be warned to calm down.
In Japan, many cars already alert you if you exceed the speed limit, so it is just conceivable that Japanese drivers could be willing to accept greater computerised oversight in the interests of road safety. So if you?re keen to prove your driving is really better than average, you may have to pop over to Japan and hire a car to find out.
Read the patent application for the computerised back seat driver
Justin Mullins, New Scientist contributor