FAQs - General

• What is RoadPilot®?

  

  RoadPilot is a mobile-cloud-based digital platform aimed at improving road safety for drivers with better driving behaviors and lowering the probability of accidents. The RoadPilot app captures critical data points for each completed trip, thoroughly analyzing driving behaviors and providing valuable feedback. The primary intent of RoadPilot is to uncover opportunities to improve driving skills, increase overall safety.

• What is a Driving Score?

  

  A Driving Score is a mathematical value aggregated across trips, and is derived from five driving behaviors: Hard-Braking, Rapid Acceleration, Unsafe Maneuvers, Speeding and Phone Usage. The maximum possible score for a trip is 5.0. Points are deducted as infractions are detected on a trip.

• How is Hard-Braking determined?

  

  The RoadPilot app detects when a vehicle decelerates quickly. When this deceleration measurement exceeds a pre-defined threshold value, the app records it as a hard-braking event. It is assumed that the reasons for hard-braking could be due to an individual’s driving habits or due to factors that are beyond the driver’s control. The purpose of this feedback is to reduce hard-braking habits where possible, and increase an overall alertness on the road.

• How is Rapid Acceleration determined?

  

  The RoadPilot app detects when a vehicle accelerates quickly from its current speed. When this acceleration measurement exceeds a pre-defined threshold value, the app records it as a rapid acceleration event. Studies show that rapid acceleration is mostly self-induced, to perhaps pass another speeding vehicle, or pass through an intersection before the light turns red, or for a quick surge in the speed to get somewhere more quickly. These actions are considered unsafe and avoidable.

• What is a Speeding Event?

  

  Exceeding suggested speed limits is one of the most common causes of traffic accidents. The RoadPilot app periodically checks the vehicle speed against the posted speed limit and determines if the driver is speeding excessively. The app is designed to identify and capture a regular speeding pattern over a pre-established threshold (10% + 2mph) from the posted speed limit, and mark it as a speeding event. Occasionally exceeding the posted limit is not necessarily marked as a speed violation event.

• How are Unsafe Maneuvers determined?

  

  Often accidents are a result of unsafe maneuvering at high speeds. The larger the angle of turn, the slower the speed of the vehicle should be. RoadPilot examines the angles of turns with respect to speed, and detects the maneuvers that are risky and avoidable. When a predefined threshold of this calculated value is breached, RoadPilot marks an unsafe maneuver for each such event. This metric helps to curb the urge to weave through the traffic or take sharp turns at inappropriate speeds.

• How is Phone Usage determined?

  

  There has been a significant rise in fatal accidents, and accident-related claims since the arrival of smart phones. Checking text messages and emails, social media posts and making calls distracts the driver. The app detects and captures these distractions with the phone for each trip based on events like unlocking the phone and navigating the apps within. Improvement in this behavior alone could prevent accidents.

• What phones are compatible with RoadPilot?

  

  RoadPilot works only with smartphones. It is currently compatible with all iOS devices which run on iOS 10 and above, and all Android devices with OS Kit-Kat and above.