System and method for categorizing driving behavior using driver mentoring and/or monitoring equipment to determine an underwriting risk
View Patent ↗System and method for monitoring and mentoring driver behavior and vehicle operation and for categorizing or grading a driver's performance. The driver's classification or grade is used to determine or adjust insurance rates, premiums or coverages for the driver. The driver may receive discounted insurance rates for using monitoring and/or mentoring equipment in the vehicle. Insurance companies may use the driver classifications or grades to bid for coverage of groups of drivers having similar classifications or grades.
1. A method of determining a cost of automobile insurance for a selected period based upon monitoring, recording and communicating data representative of operator and vehicle driving characteristics during said period, whereby the cost is adjustable by relating the driving characteristics to predetermined safety standards, the method comprising:
monitoring, through electronic software operating in conjunction with electronic computer hardware, vehicle operation during a baseline period, wherein the electronic software is operable to provide feedback to a driver of a vehicle;
disabling feedback during the baseline period;
determining, through electronic software operating in conjunction with electronic computer hardware, a base cost of automobile insurance based at least in part on the vehicle operation during the baseline period;
monitoring, through electronic software operating in conjunction with electronic computer hardware, vehicle operation parameters during a period after the baseline period;
mentoring, through electronic software operating in conjunction with electronic computer hardware, the driver during operation of the vehicle based at least, in part upon at least one vehicle operation parameter exceeding threshold;
determining a reaction of the driver in response to the mentoring;
determining an adjustment to the base cost based at least in part upon the reaction; and
determining, through electronic software operating in conjunction with electronic computer hardware, a final cost of automobile insurance for the period, the final cost based at least in part upon the adjustment.
2. A method of insuring a vehicle operator for a selected period based upon operator driving characteristics during the period, comprising:
generating, through electronic software operating in conjunction with electronic computer hardware, an initial operator profile;
monitoring, through electronic software operating in conjunction with electronic computer hardware, vehicle operation parameters during a period of time;
mentoring, through electronic software operating in conjunction with electronic computer hardware, a driver of a vehicle, during operation of the vehicle, based at least in part upon at least one vehicle operation parameter exceeding a threshold;
determining, through electronic software operating in conjunction with electronic computer hardware, a percentage of the time that the at least one vehicle operation parameter is exceeding the threshold;
determining a reaction of the driver in response to the mentoring; and
determining, through electronic software operating in conjunction with electronic computer hardware, a cost of vehicle insurance for the period based at least in part upon the reaction and the percentage of time.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the vehicle operation parameters comprise vehicle speed and acceleration.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the vehicle operation parameters comprise driver impairment thresholds.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the vehicle operation parameters comprise environmental conditions during the use.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the vehicle operation parameters comprise road or traffic conditions in the area of the use.
7. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
determining, through electronic software operating in conjunction with electronic computer hardware, costs of vehicle insurance for a plurality of uses.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of uses comprise all of the uses during a period.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the period is one month.
10. The method of claim 2 , wherein the cost of vehicle insurance further comprises a basic policy cost.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising enabling feedback during the period after the baseline period.
12. The method of claim 2 , wherein the period comprises a baseline period and a subsequent period, and the method further comprising:
disabling the mentoring during the baseline period;
enabling the mentoring during the subsequent period; and
determining driver habits based at least in part upon vehicle operation parameters during the baseline period and vehicle operation parameters during the subsequent period.
13. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
monitoring vehicle operation parameters during a second period of time;
determining a second percentage of time that the at least one vehicle operation parameter is exceeding the threshold;
determining a difference between the second percentage of time and the percentage of time; and
wherein the cost of vehicle insurance is further based at least upon the difference.