Road Course and Methods of Use

Abstract

A system and corresponding method is provided for conveying driving-related information to vehicle drivers on a track or road course. The system includes evaluating a track or road course and determining recommended driving actions for various segments of the track or road course which may be suitable for drivers of different skill levels, including a relatively inexperienced driver. The recommendations can include speed-related information such a target speed, maximum speed, or a speed range. Optionally, the recommendations relate to other specific driving tasks such as starting or stopping a braking procedure, the appropriate line or path to follow around a curve at a given indicated speed, or starting or stopping an acceleration procedure. The recommendations are conveyed to the driver by way of indicia that is preferably provided on a portion of the driving surface of the track or road course. The indicia can be one or multiple colors, one or multiple shapes or symbols, or other suitable visually conspicuous elements or matter.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This utility patent application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. provisional application 60 / 965199, filed Aug. 16, 2007 and entitled ROAD COURSE AND METHODS OF USE, which is herein expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety, for all purposes.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to facilities for recreational driving and, more particularly, to systems for conveying information regarding recommended driving procedure(s), and / or various road course or track characteristics, to drivers.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]There are many facilities in the U.S. and internationally for recreational driving. These are often in the form of tracks or road courses which can be used for professional and amateur racing or for recreational driving in high performance vehicles, such as high performance cars and motorcycles, by non-professional drivers. Usage of tracks and road courses by non-professional drivers, e.g.,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]In yet other implementations, a road course is provided that includes color-coded markings on the surface of the road or driving surface. Such colors may indicate to drivers the recommended speed ranges, maximum vehicular speeds, target speed(s) and / or other parameters for different sections of the road course. The recommended speed information, e.g., ranges, maximum speed(s), or target speed(s) may be signified by color(s), and uses are established and communicated to drivers prior to their use of the course. Since the color itself helps to indicate the recommended speed range or other information, drivers do not need to read any letters, words or numbers, but simply see a given color on the road, which is visually conspicuous and thus easily perceived without the driver taking his or her eyes off the road or changing focus used for optimal driving.

Problems solved by technology

However, such non-professional drivers may not have the ability to adequately maintain vehicular control at relatively high speeds while driving through corners and turns.

Without such guidance, non-professional drivers are more likely to make mistakes and be involved in accidents.

Some tracks and road courses include no way for a non-professional driver to know an appropriate speed, besides his or her own instincts.

However, such rumble strips do not convey, e.g., recommended speed or braking information to drivers, whereby at times when non-professional drivers hit rumble strips, their vehicles are already, at least to some extent, out of control and they drive completely off the driving surface.

However, in some instances, roadside signs are less than desirable for conveying speed and other driving information to non-professional drivers.

For example, if drivers go off track or otherwise stray from a roadway surface of the track or road course, such signs may become physical obstacles that could be struck by, and thus potential hazards for, the drivers.

However, encouraging non-professional drivers to remove their attention from the roadway surface, especially while driving at relatively high speeds, can lead to hazardous situations.

Furthermore, roadside signs offer only occasional, discrete, reminders, even though non-professional drivers tend to require continual feedback regarding appropriate or recommended speeds and / or other driving information or parameters.

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