Methods for improving driving safety when a motor vehicle travels on a roadway leading over a bridge

Abstract

Method for improving driving safety when driving on a roadway (10) leading over a bridge (11) by a motor vehicle (1), according to which the motor vehicle (1) monitors whether the preceding section of the roadway (10) leads over a bridge (11) while driving on the roadway (10), characterized in that - if it is detected during the monitoring that this is the case, a black ice warning symbol (4) visible to the driver of the motor vehicle (1) is projected onto the roadway (10) by means of a headlight (2) of the motor vehicle (1), if it is detected by means of a sensor (3) provided in the motor vehicle (1) that there is a risk of black ice on the bridge (11), and that - the black ice warning symbol (4) is hidden again as soon as the driver reduces or has reduced the speed of the motor vehicle (1).

Description

The invention relates to a method for improving driving safety when a motor vehicle is driving on a roadway leading over a bridge. The invention further relates to a motor vehicle with a control device which is configured / programmed to carry out this method. From DE 100 62 655 A1 a method for improving driving safety is known in which a black ice warning symbol is displayed in a side exterior mirror. The WO 99 / 11 968 A1 reveals the projection of symbols onto the roadway by a headlight. Road sections that cross bridges are known to be particularly prone to black ice formation. Therefore, motor vehicles traveling on such sections face an increased risk of skidding and thus accidents. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method by which driving safety can be improved when driving on a roadway leading over a bridge. This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent patent claims. The basic idea of ​​the invention is therefore to use sensors in the motor vehicle to determine whether there is a risk of icing on a roadway running over a bridge, and, if so, to project a warning message onto the roadway in front of the vehicle using a headlight installed in the vehicle, so that it can be seen by the driver. In this way, the driver is warned of the existing risk of black ice, so that he can take appropriate countermeasures – for example, braking the vehicle. The method according to the invention serves to improve driving safety when a motor vehicle travels on a roadway that crosses a bridge. According to the method, the motor vehicle monitors whether the roadway ahead crosses a bridge. Such monitoring can be carried out using a front-facing camera in the motor vehicle, which generates images of the area in front of the vehicle, allowing an approaching bridge to be detected through image analysis. Alternatively or additionally, it is also conceivable to detect an impending bridge crossing using a navigation system in the motor vehicle. For this purpose, the navigation system can, in particular, include a GPS sensor for determining the position of the motor vehicle and suitable map data showing roads and any bridges located on these roads. If, during this monitoring process, it is detected that the vehicle is about to cross a bridge or is already crossing one, a black ice warning symbol, visible to the driver, is projected onto the road surface by the vehicle's headlights, provided that black ice is detected or has been detected on the bridge. This detection can be made using suitable sensors in the vehicle. For example, such a sensor could be a temperature sensor that measures the temperature in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle. Alternatively, the sensor could be an optical sensor, particularly a camera, that can optically detect black ice on the road surface. According to the invention, the black ice warning symbol displayed on the road surface disappears as soon as the driver reduces the speed of the motor vehicle; because reducing the speed significantly reduces the risk of skidding and sliding and thus the risk of losing control of the motor vehicle. Preferably, the projection of the black ice warning symbol is terminated after a predetermined, preferably preset, period of time. In another preferred embodiment, the black ice warning symbol can be hidden again as soon as the driver has acknowledged the perception of the black ice warning symbol by means of an input device provided in the motor vehicle. The invention further relates to a motor vehicle with at least one headlight, preferably with two such headlights, for illuminating the area in front of the vehicle, wherein at least one headlight is designed to project an ice warning symbol onto the road surface. The motor vehicle further comprises a control device for controlling the at least one headlight, wherein the control device is configured / programmed to carry out the method according to the invention described above. The advantages of the method according to the invention, as explained above, are therefore transferred to the motor vehicle according to the invention. In a preferred embodiment of the motor vehicle according to the invention, the vehicle comprises sensors for detecting black ice on the road surface currently being driven on or about to be driven on. In particular, such sensors can be temperature sensors by which the temperature in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle can be determined. Alternatively or additionally, such sensors can also be optical sensors, in particular cameras, by which black ice on the road surface can be optically detected. In another preferred embodiment, the motor vehicle can include a monitoring system that can determine whether the motor vehicle is about to cross a bridge or has already crossed one. Such a monitoring system can include a front-facing camera in the motor vehicle that generates images of the area in front of the vehicle, allowing an approaching bridge to be detected through image analysis. Alternatively or additionally, the monitoring system can also be formed by a navigation system in the motor vehicle. For this purpose, the navigation system can, in particular, include a GPS sensor for determining the position of the motor vehicle and suitable map data showing roads and bridges located on those roads. Further important features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the drawings and the associated description of the figures based on the drawings. It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without leaving the scope of the present invention. Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar or functionally identical components. The figures show, schematically: Fig. 1 by way of example a motor vehicle according to the invention traveling on a roadway and approaching a bridge, Fig. 2 by way of example a possible representation of a black ice warning symbol that can be generated by the front headlight of the motor vehicle and projected onto the roadway in front of the vehicle. Figure 1 shows a motor vehicle 1 traveling on a roadway 10, which includes a section that crosses a bridge 11. Figure 1 is a snapshot showing the motor vehicle 1 as it approaches the bridge 11 but has not yet reached it. The motor vehicle 1 has a headlight 2 for illuminating the area in front of it. The headlight 2 is also designed to project an icy warning symbol 4 onto the roadway 10. For clarification, such a black ice warning symbol 4 is shown as an example in Fig. 2. According to Fig. 1, the motor vehicle 1 further comprises a control unit 5 for controlling the headlight 2. By means of the control unit 5, the headlight 2 can be controlled in such a way that it generates the aforementioned black ice warning symbol 4 on the road surface 11. Furthermore, the control unit 5 is configured / programmed to carry out the method according to the invention. According to the procedure, while driving on the roadway 10, the vehicle 1 monitors whether the upcoming roadway section leads over a bridge 11. If this monitoring detects that this is the case, a sensor 3 in the vehicle 1 determines whether there is a risk of black ice on the bridge 11. If this is also the case, the black ice warning symbol 4 shown in Fig. 2 is projected onto the roadway 10 by the headlight 2 of the vehicle 1 so that it can be perceived by the driver. In this way, the driver is warned of the existing black ice hazard and can take countermeasures. For example, the driver of the vehicle 1 can reduce the speed of the vehicle 1, at least while driving over the bridge 11.The black ice warning symbol 4, projected onto lane 10 by the headlight 2, is automatically hidden again as soon as the control unit 5 detects that the driver has reduced the speed of the vehicle 1. Alternatively, the black ice warning symbol 4 can be hidden again as soon as the driver acknowledges the black ice warning symbol 4 by means of an input device provided in the vehicle 1.

Claims

Method for improving driving safety when driving on a roadway (10) leading over a bridge (11) by a motor vehicle (1), according to which the motor vehicle (1) monitors whether the preceding section of the roadway (10) leads over a bridge (11) while driving on the roadway (10), characterized in that - if it is detected during the monitoring that this is the case, a black ice warning symbol (4) visible to the driver of the motor vehicle (1) is projected onto the roadway (10) by means of a headlight (2) of the motor vehicle (1), if it is detected by means of a sensor (3) provided in the motor vehicle (1) that there is a risk of black ice on the bridge (11), and that - the black ice warning symbol (4) is hidden again as soon as the driver reduces or has reduced the speed of the motor vehicle (1). Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the black ice warning symbol (4) is hidden again as soon as the driver has acknowledged the perception of the black ice warning symbol (4) by means of an input device provided in the motor vehicle (1). Motor vehicle (1),- with at least one headlight (2) for illuminating a vehicle forecourt of the motor vehicle (1), wherein the headlight (2) is designed to project an ice warning symbol (4) onto the roadway (10),- with a control or regulating device (5) for controlling the at least one headlight (2), wherein the control / regulating device (5) is set up / programmed to carry out the method according to one of the preceding claims.

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