Managing Driver Engagement

A processing system for use in a vehicle, comprising:

• a processor configured with processor-executable instructions to:
• evaluate a driving risk on a roadway proximate to the vehicle using historical data associated with the roadway;
• identify an emotive expression of a driver using vehicle sensor data;
• obtain historical data about driver reaction times for assuming full control of other vehicles;
• select a minimum level of driver engagement suitable for the roadway proximate to the vehicle based on the evaluated driving risk, the identified emotive expression of the driver, and the historical data about driver reaction times;
• observe a driver behavior using one or more vehicle sensors;
• and
• take an action in response to determining that the driver behavior does not meet the minimum level of driver engagement suitable for the roadway proximate to the vehicle.

A processing system for use in a vehicle, comprising:

• means for evaluating a driving risk on a roadway proximate to the vehicle using historical data associated with the roadway;
• means for identifying an emotive expression of a driver using vehicle sensor data;
• means for obtaining historical data about driver reaction times for assuming full control of other vehicles;
• means for selecting a minimum level of driver engagement suitable for the roadway proximate to the vehicle based on the evaluated driving risk, the identified emotive expression of the driver, and the historical data about driver reaction times;
• means for observing a driver behavior using one or more vehicle sensors;
• and
• means for taking an action in response to determining that the driver behavior does not meet the minimum level of driver engagement suitable for the roadway proximate to the vehicle.

A non-transitory processor-readable medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processing device of a vehicle to perform operations comprising:

• evaluating a driving risk on a roadway proximate to the vehicle using historical data associated with the roadway;
• identifying an emotive expression of a driver using vehicle sensor data;
• obtaining historical data about driver reaction times for assuming full control of other vehicles;
• selecting a minimum level of driver engagement suitable for the roadway proximate to the vehicle based on the evaluated driving risk, the identified emotive expression of the driver, and the historical data about driver reaction times;
• observing a driver behavior using one or more vehicle sensors;
• and
• taking an action in response to determining that the driver behavior does not meet the minimum level of driver engagement suitable for the roadway proximate to the vehicle.