Driving assistance systems and methods

A method for improving safety during operation of a passenger vehicle occupied by a driver of the vehicle, the method comprising:

• collecting data corresponding to internal and external conditions of the vehicle, including weather and traffic conditions as well as driver condition;
• processing the collected data to determine useful and/or pertinent data thereof;
• establishing a driver profile of typical driving characteristics from the collected data;
• determining potential risks and/or hazards from the collected data;
• and
• warning the driver of the potential risks and/or hazards determined from the collected data.

A system for determining positions of rear and sideview mirrors of a passenger vehicle that are optimized for a driver of the passenger vehicle and for moving the rear and sideview mirrors into the positions, the system comprising:

• a data collection system that detects and records a driver seat position of the passenger vehicle, body and face positions of a driver of the passenger vehicle while seated in the driver seat, and preliminary positions of the rear and sideview mirrors;
• an algorithm to determine positions of the rear and sideview mirrors to reduce blind spots and increase driver visual awareness of the driver while seated in the driver seat;
• means for the driver to initiate the system;
• and
• means for moving the rear and sideview mirrors to the determined positions thereof as a result of the driver initiating the system.