1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

[Sunday Times] Forget cameras - spy device will cut drivers’ speed by satellite

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by tigermission1, Jul 7, 2005.

Tags:
  1. tigermission1

    tigermission1 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2002
    Messages:
    15,557
    Likes Received:
    17
    Interesting, I hope this never happens, it would annoy the **** outta me

    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1678707,00.html

    Forget cameras - spy device will cut drivers’ speed by satellite

    Dipesh Gadher, Transport Correspondent

    IT IS the ultimate back seat driver. Motorists face having their cars fitted with a “spy” device that stops speeding.
    The satellite-based system will monitor the speed limit and apply the brakes or cut out the accelerator if the driver tries to exceed it. A government-funded trial has concluded that the scheme promotes safer driving.

    Drivers in London could be among the first to have the “speed spy” devices fitted. They would be offered a discount on the congestion charge if they use the system.

    The move follows a six-month trial in Leeds using 20 modified Skoda Fabias, which found that volunteer drivers paid more attention as well keeping to the speed limit. More than 1,000 lives a year could be saved if the system was fitted to all Britain’s cars, say academics at Leeds University, who ran the trial on behalf of the Department for Transport (DfT).

    It is part of a two-year research project into “intelligent speed adaptation” (ISA), which the department is funding at a cost of £2m. Results of the initial trial will be presented to ministers this week.

    A study commissioned by London’s transport planners has recommended that motorists who install it should be rewarded with a discount on the congestion charge, which tomorrow rises to £8 a day.

    The trial Skodas were fitted with a black box containing a digital map identifying the speed limits of every stretch of road in Leeds. A satellite positioning system tracked the cars’ locations.

    The device compared the car’s speed with the local limit — displayed on the dashboard — and sent a signal to the accelerator or brake pedal to slow if it was too fast. The system can be overridden to avoid a hazard.

    “The trials have been incredibly successful,” said Oliver Carsten, project leader and professor of transport safety at Leeds University.

    The DfT says it has no plans to make speed limiters mandatory but admits that it is considering creating a digital map of all Britain’s roads which would pave the way for a national ISA system.

    Edmund King, of the RAC Foundation, said limiters might make motorists less alert: “If you take too much control away the driver could switch on to autopilot.”
     
    #1 tigermission1, Jul 7, 2005
  2. MadMax

    MadMax Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 1999
    Messages:
    76,683
    Likes Received:
    25,924
    yeah..satellites controlling the speed of cars down on earth. what could possibly go wrong?
     
    #2 MadMax, Jul 7, 2005
  3. Falcons Talon

    Falcons Talon Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2002
    Messages:
    7,807
    Likes Received:
    945
    LOL...That would wreak havoc for us 1/4 mile track racers.
     
    #3 Falcons Talon, Jul 7, 2005
  4. PhiSlammaJamma

    PhiSlammaJamma Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 1999
    Messages:
    29,965
    Likes Received:
    8,046
    Purchase the dish version, when it rains nothing can stop you.
     
    #4 PhiSlammaJamma, Jul 7, 2005
  5. Miguel

    Miguel Member

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2003
    Messages:
    5,625
    Likes Received:
    140

    :D Good one!
     
    #5 Miguel, Jul 7, 2005
  6. tigermission1

    tigermission1 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2002
    Messages:
    15,557
    Likes Received:
    17

    Do you always jump in with funny one-liners?:D
     
    #6 tigermission1, Jul 7, 2005
  7. Isabel

    Isabel Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 1999
    Messages:
    4,667
    Likes Received:
    58
    did it not occur to them that sometimes it is useful and necessary to speed... like if there's an emergency or you're trying to get out of someone's way in time... not to mention that it's none of Big Brother's business. :mad:
     
    #7 Isabel, Jul 8, 2005
  8. francis 4 prez

    francis 4 prez Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2001
    Messages:
    22,025
    Likes Received:
    4,552
    well it did say it could be overridden in case of emergency.


    but it'll be a cold day in hell before i get one of those in my car.
     
    #8 francis 4 prez, Jul 8, 2005
  9. Kilgore Trout

    Kilgore Trout Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2002
    Messages:
    1,748
    Likes Received:
    142
    Um, yeah, no thanks.
     
    #9 Kilgore Trout, Jul 8, 2005
  10. rockets-#1

    rockets-#1 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2002
    Messages:
    3,895
    Likes Received:
    9
    No. No. No.

    I could not survive with that; I would go insane. Plus, it's somewhat of a r****ded concept. They wouldn't be able to get those installed into all cars. Some people have certain cars they keep in a garage and only drive every so often. Some cars are problably too old and/or just too messed up to be fitted with the proper equipment. Also, not everyone would take their cars in to be equipped. So, you'd have all these people locked down from exceeding the speed limit, and then you'll have the people without this device speeding right around them. Basically, it'd be exactly how it is now with people observing the limit and those who don't - me. :cool:
     
    #10 rockets-#1, Jul 8, 2005
  11. Manny Ramirez

    Manny Ramirez The Music Man

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2001
    Messages:
    28,812
    Likes Received:
    5,747
    I'll be worried when this takes place in the US, but for now, there is nothing to get upset over. Granted, I think this is not a good thing for reasons already mentioned in this thread, but nonetheless just thankful that we are reading about this taking place in ANOTHER country other than ours.
     
    #11 Manny Ramirez, Jul 8, 2005
  12. Cohen

    Cohen Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 1999
    Messages:
    10,751
    Likes Received:
    6
    Won't happen here. Think about the lost police jobs and lost ticket revenues (who would pseed if the ticket is a sure thing?) which are actually 'budgeted' for specific expenses.

    It will help prove that tickets are not as much about safety in this country ... but revenues.
     
    #12 Cohen, Jul 8, 2005
  13. Davidoff

    Davidoff Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2004
    Messages:
    5,643
    Likes Received:
    9
    I would be all for it here in the US ONLY if we can use the same idea to make the old people on the freeway drive ATLEAST the speed limt and not 45 in the fast lane.. :mad:
     
    #13 Davidoff, Jul 8, 2005
  14. leroy

    leroy Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2002
    Messages:
    27,372
    Likes Received:
    11,243
    If it were to come in to the US, the used car market would skyrocket. No one would buy a new car with one of those things.

    It might be the only time that it would be great to be a used car salesman.
     
    #14 leroy, Jul 8, 2005
  15. fadeaway

    fadeaway Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2000
    Messages:
    14,704
    Likes Received:
    1,193
    I'm curious as to how this technology could be overridden in a crisis situation. When things get crazy, you don't have much time to react.
     
    #15 fadeaway, Jul 8, 2005
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)

Share This Page

Style
ClutchFans Dark

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Rockets Content

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now