Method, apparatus, and system for providing a runaway vehicle detection system

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,
• process sensor data to detect that a vehicle is involved in or predicted to be involved in a runaway vehicle event, wherein the runaway event indicates that a mechanical failure has caused the vehicle to lose an ability to control its speed as the vehicle operates on a road;
• process map data, the sensor data, or a combination thereof to determine a runaway vehicle safety location based on at least one attribute of the vehicle, wherein the processing of the map data, the sensor data, or a combination thereof comprises:
• searching the map data, the sensor data, or a combination thereof for one or more candidate locations with one or more topographical features capable of slowing the vehicle;
• and
• selecting the runaway vehicle safety location from the one or more candidate locations based on minimizing damage to the vehicle, the vehicle runaway vehicle safety location, a passenger of the vehicle, or a combination thereof;
• generate an alert message indicating the runaway vehicle safety location;
• and
• provide the alert message for display on a device associated with the vehicle.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to perform:

• processing sensor data to detect that a vehicle is involved in or predicted to be involved in a runaway vehicle event, wherein the runaway event indicates that a mechanical failure has caused the vehicle to lose an ability to control its speed as the vehicle operates on a road;
• processing map data, the sensor data, or a combination thereof to determine a runaway vehicle;
• processing map data, the sensor data, or a combination thereof to determine a runaway vehicle safety location based on at least one attribute of the vehicle, wherein the processing of the map data, the sensor data, or a combination thereof comprises:
• searching the map data, the sensor data, or a combination thereof for one or more candidate locations with one or more topographical features capable of slowing the vehicle;
• and
• selecting the runaway vehicle safety location from the one or more candidate locations based on minimizing damage to the vehicle, the vehicle runaway vehicle safety location, a passenger of the vehicle, or a combination thereof;
• generating an alert message indicating the runaway vehicle safety location;
• and
• providing the alert message for display on a device associated with the vehicle.