Method, system, and computer program product for determining and reporting tailgating incidents

Claim 1

A system for monitoring and detecting a tailgate event between two vehicles moving in a forward motion, the two vehicles comprising a first vehicle and a second vehicle, one of the two vehicles being an offending vehicle and the other of the two vehicles being an affected vehicle, the system comprising: a range sensor operable for determining a distance between the two vehicles, the first vehicle in front of the second vehicle; a processor executing instructions for: calculating a safe distance range between the two vehicles based upon at least one of speed, weight, and safe braking range values of at least one of the two vehicles; and comparing the distance and the safe distance range; and a recording device on the affected vehicle; wherein based upon the comparing, the recording device is activated if the distance is less than the safe distance range indicating an unacceptable distance range value, the offending vehicle being responsible for causing the unacceptable distance range value; wherein the weight is obtained via at least one of: a memory device that stores the pre-programmed weight; a user input via a weight calibration device; a weigh in motion scale on a roadway, the weight transmitted from the weigh in motion scale to the weighed vehicle over a network via at least one of a monitoring vehicle and a weigh in motion terminal within transmission range of the weighed vehicle, wherein the weighed vehicle is the offending vehicle; and an estimated calculation based upon at least one of a vehicle make and model, a number of attached trailers, and a number of axles, wherein the vehicle make and model, the number of attached trailers, and the number of axles are captured by a camera near the roadway and transmitted over a network to the offending vehicle.

Claim 2

A system for monitoring and detecting a tailgate event between two vehicles moving in a forward motion, the two vehicles comprising a first vehicle and a second vehicle, one of the two vehicles being an offending vehicle and the other of the two vehicles being an affected vehicle, the system comprising: a range sensor operable for determining a distance between the two vehicles, the first vehicle in front of the second vehicle; a processor executing instructions for: calculating a safe distance range between the two vehicles based upon at least one of speed, weight, and safe braking range values of at least one of the two vehicles; and comparing the distance and the safe distance range; and a recording device on the affected vehicle; wherein based upon the comparing, the recording device is activated if the distance is less than the safe distance range indicating an unacceptable distance range value, the offending vehicle being responsible for causing the unacceptable distance range value; wherein the weight is obtained via at least one of: a memory device that stores the pre-programmed weight; a user input via a weight calibration device; a weigh in motion scale on a roadway, the weight transmitted from the weigh in motion scale to the weighed vehicle over a network via at least one of a monitoring vehicle and a weigh in motion terminal within transmission range of the weighed vehicle, wherein the weighed vehicle is the offending vehicle; and an estimated calculation based upon at least one of a vehicle make and model, a number of attached trailers, and a number of axles, wherein the vehicle make and model, the number of attached trailers, and the number of axles are captured by a camera near the roadway and transmitted over a network to the offending vehicle.