System for reducing vehicle collisions based on an automated segmented assessment of a collision risk

• US 10,571,283 B1
• Filed: 04/07/2017
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Original Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (State Farm)
• Inventors: Nepomuceno, John A., Shah, Rajiv C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Melton, Todd M
• Application Number:
  US15/482,475
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3691 Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3804 Creation or updating of map data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3867 Geometry of map features, e.g. shape points, polygons or for simplified maps
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/012 from other sources than vehicle or roadside beacons, e.g. mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for calculating a risk index for one or more areas (e.g., roads, intersections, bridges, and other transportation infrastructure). For instance, high risk intersections may be identified and mapped from historic auto insurance claim data. High risk intersections may be identified because of an excessive number of vehicle collisions there, and/or an amount and extent of vehicle damage, personal injuries, and/or insurance liability expenses associated with, or resulting from, the vehicle collisions at those locations. Risk indices for various areas may be compared to one another, enabling comparison of the relative riskiness of the areas. In some embodiments, a risk map may be generated to visually depict one or more risk indices for areas within a depicted region. The risk map may be used to quickly identify the riskiest area(s) in the region, and to notify government bodies to facilitate repairs and improve road safety.

Claims

1. A system for reducing vehicle collisions at high risk areas, the system comprising:

a display;

a processor coupled to the display; and

one or more memory devices storing non-transitory computer readable instructions that when executed cause the processor to;

(i) calculate a number of expected collisions for a particular area over a time period;

(ii) determine a number of observed collisions for the particular area over the time period;

(iii) determine a market share factor for the particular area;

(iv) calculate a risk index to facilitate identifying high risk areas, the risk index calculated based on;

(i) a comparison between the number of observed collisions and the number of expected collisions for the particular area, and (ii) the market share factor for the particular area; and

(v) display, via the display, a risk map depicting the risk index for the particular area.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a mobile device configured to:

wirelessly receive from the processor the generated risk map; and

display the generated risk map.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the risk map includes graphic elements depicting risk indices for a plurality of areas in addition to the particular area.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the market share factor accounts for total traffic flow through the particular area.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to calculate the number of expected collisions based on historical traffic data for multiple areas, wherein the number of expected collisions corresponds to an average risk for the multiple areas.

6. A computer-implemented method for reducing vehicle collisions at high risk areas, the method comprising:

calculating via one or more processors a risk index, wherein calculating the risk index comprises;

(i) calculating a number of expected collisions for a particular area over a time period;

(ii) determining a number of observed collisions for the particular area over the time period;

(iii) determining a market share factor for the particular area; and

(iv) calculate the risk index based on;

(i) a comparison between the number of observed collisions and the number of expected collisions for the particular area, and (ii) the market share factor for the particular area; and

displaying a risk map depicting the risk index for the particular area.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein calculating the number of expected collisions comprises:

calculating the number of expected collisions based upon historical traffic data for the particular area.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein calculating the number of expected collisions comprises:

calculating the number of expected collisions based upon historical traffic data for multiple areas;

wherein the number of expected collisions corresponds to an average risk for the multiple areas.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein calculating the number of expected collisions comprises:

calculating a traffic flow for the particular area.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein calculating the number of expected collisions comprises:

adjusting for market penetration;

wherein calculating the observed collisions includes limiting the observed collisions to observations involving vehicles within the market corresponding to the market penetration.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the risk map includes graphic elements depicting risk indices for a plurality of areas in addition to the particular area.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein calculating the risk index comprises:

accounting for liability expenses associated with collisions occurring at the particular area.

13. A system comprising:

a means for calculating a number of expected collisions for a particular area over a time period;

a means for observing a number of observed collisions for the particular area over the time period;

a means for determining a market share factor for the particular area; and

a means for calculating the risk index based on;

(i) a comparison between the number of observed collisions and the number of expected collisions for the particular area, and (ii) the market share factor for the particular area;

a means for generating a risk map depicting the risk index for the particular area;

a means for displaying the risk map depicting the risk index for the particular area.

14. The system of claim 13, further including a means for generating a risk map based up on the risk index and for displaying the risk map.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for generating the risk map comprises:

a means for generating graphic elements depicting risk indices for a plurality of areas in addition to the particular area.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for calculating the number of expected collisions comprises:

a means for calculating the number of expected collisions based on historical traffic data for multiple areas, wherein the number of expected collisions corresponds to an average risk for the multiple areas.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for calculating the number of expected collisions comprises:

a means for calculating a traffic flow for the particular area.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for calculating the risk index comprises:

a means for accounting for liability expenses associated with collisions occurring at the particular area.