08:36 03-09-2025

GM driver monitoring system scores habits and warns of decline

GM has patented a new technology that uses an algorithm to keep tabs on how you drive and, when necessary, to suggest you may not be at your best anymore.

The patent notes that age can bring physical and psychological impairments: reflexes slow, vision worsens, and there are plenty of other concerns to keep in mind.

A suite of in-car sensors gathers data on driving style and measures reactions. Potential inputs include squinting, horn use, signaling, and crossing into oncoming traffic—or avoiding it. The system also looks at driver posture and how the pedals are used for acceleration and braking, along with virtually anything else the car can observe.

It then sorts each response into three categories: acceptable, questionable, and what it deems unacceptable. The vehicle tallies a score and tracks how that score changes over time. If a driver falls below the acceptable threshold, the car can notify them. It’s the kind of feedback that could nudge better habits, even if few motorists relish the idea of being graded by their own vehicle.

GM’s inventors also see broader applications. The same setup could monitor driver fatigue, building on existing systems that do the job, or keep watch to ensure the person behind the wheel is actually driving rather than absorbed by a phone or anything else that takes attention off the road.