http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...678707,00.html


"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.”

 

Imagine driving on the two lane road (one in each direction). You come up to a truck that does 5 mph less then speed limit or just a little slower, so you decide to pass him. As you line up and go around him you fuel cuts off or brakes are getting applied or some crap like that. That's just one example I thought of when I read the article. Imagine home many more dangerous things this can lead to.

--- “The trials have been incredibly successful,” said Oliver Carsten ---

I wonder what they tried really. IMHO, monitoring is one thing, making decisions for you while you're in control of the car is another. I would install the monitoring devices on inexperienced drivers' cars or repeated speed limit breakers but not what they proposed. Just my .02 cents.


As far as overriding a system to avoid a hazard.... yea, right, that's what I will be thinking about when someone is about to smash into me when my car decided it needs an override to let me do what I need to do to avoid that hazard. .

 

It seems the UK is ahead of us in terms of "big brother" with cameras on alot of street corners, it'll take a while before it migrates over here I reckon as we're so much bigger but Im sure there will be something similar. I can foresee the day when like in "minority report" we'd not be driving at all, but auto guided to a destination or something..unless the price of oil starts dropping or the supply never runs out it'll be a luxury to drive anywhere.

 

I'm still surprised that all cars don't come with govs set at like 80

 

Federally mandated traction control? Black boxes? And now this?

I hope to hell this doesn't go in.

 

the closest track to me is in a town with a city-wide speed limit of 30. If I went to the track would the car top out at 30? I'd get some killer times there

 

Speed doesn't kill, stupidity does.

 

This is the most stupid thing I ever heard. Whoever is developping this is wasting his time. IF you really wanted to control drivers speed, simply sell cars with a 65 mph cut off, instead of spending millions on a sufisticated satelite system.

It's like killing a fly with a fighter jet.

 

F*ck big brother. Don't let them try to control more of our lives. Why doesn't the entire world just switch to Prius cars so that we can save the environment while we're at it.

 

+1...

Then call up technosquare to remove the limiter.

 

This is 4th of July and the we are celebrating our FREEDOM. If this is being put on cars I will be the first to stand infront of the capitol building to protest. Im not saying speeding is OK, what I am saying is if they put this into place, what is next? X-ray vision to monitor homes to make sure nobody is breaking the law. Less government the better, this is a step in the wrong direction and I strongly disagree.

 

This is a load of bullsh*t - unbelievable breach of our FREEDOM. I will drive whatever speed I damn well please - speeding is NOT the cause!!! This would result in a severe depression solely based on luxury and sports car markets.

 

If that were to happen. Luxury automobiles and sports cars would cease to be made. I don't think auto makers will want that to happen.

 

I'm sure you can remove the speed spy just as easily. And if they really wanted the limiter to be perminant, they could hardwire it.

I still don't understand you Americans. If You want to make the country a safer place then remove all those guns from the wanabe gangsters and dangerous people. Instead of wasting time and money on a satellite nany for drivers.

 

uh, I would try to take their guns away, but don't you think they would try and shoot me if I did?

 

Yeah, because criminals won't get guns illegally.

 

I hate to quote Michael Moore, but in Bowling for Columbine didn't he say that there are tons and tons of Canadians with guns, but barely any violent shootings in Canada?

<IMHO>
The problem is with the core fundamental principles with which these kids are being raised. Young mommy or daddy doesn't know the meaning of birth control, and many who get pregnant as teens "don't believe in abortion." They are too young to properly raise their kid, and often times the father leaves because while he (A) fundamentally doesn't believe in birth control, he (B) doesn't want to be responsible for raising the kid.
</IMHO>

An example of this is not just one, but several of my acquaintences over the years.

One of them was 18, had 2 kids (Catholic, does not believe in birth control, "Having however many kids I want, whenever I want is my right") and daddy was in jail for armed robbery. He left her before the criminal charge, though. What do you think will happen to these kids as mom frequently goes out to party all night and the kids get raised by irresponsible grandma (because mom thinks it's her right to go out and do what she wants in her own words)? Oh yeah, mom works as a cashier full time making $8.50 / hour, minimal benefits. She also thinks that her kids need to eat organic foods only so she ends up spending probably a good 40% of her income on expensive food. I don't think she can afford health insurance for her kids but she can go out and party with her friends...

Another example, pretty much same story. 23 year old, 1 kid (Catholic, does not believe in birth control or abortion), dad ("boyfriend") in prison for murder (don't worry guys - "HE'S REALLY INNUHCENT!!!!!one"). She WAS working as a paralegal until she recently got fired. For what you might ask? Pretty much slacking off at work, and chatting with her friends on her cell phone, and using email for personal purposes. She got 3 written warnings but just couldn't stop her socializing at work. What a shame, she was very good at her job when she was TRYING. Now she is back to relying on grandma to help make ends meet again...

There are countless other examples, I've seen on TV talk shows, heard them call in to radio shows, and chatted with some of them personally... let me tell you, the story sounds similar every time. It's so easy to generalize because the generalizations are so often true.

In both of these cases, the mom can't afford to live near her work... so she has to drive a beat-up car with no safety features really far every day. One of them had her air bags stolen a few years ago, and she is driving without insurance. So, no new airbags for her. If she crashes, there's a good chance she will die. Then these kids will be left with even less direction, even less positive influence from their parents.

It is the kids who are raised in such environments who have no direction from their parents, and they struggle with their parents for freedom and power at a young age, since their parents are not much older than they are. I'm not saying that all of these parents are completely incompetent at raising kids. But a good number of them are, and they pass off responsibility to the grandparents because they have no idea what to do. They try to work for a living, and they have to work HARD because of their financial hardships and lack of education.

It's not easy standing behind a counter in the food service business for 8 hours a day, I've done it and it's pretty rediculous to me that some people actually have to make a living for not themselves, but also a child (or children) on less than $10 an hour. These people BEG AND PLEAD for overtime. Even when they are already worked to the bone.

Do I know the solution to this problem? Hell no. Our country was designed to maximize people's rights and minimize government regulation over things that should be considered fundamental human rights. Anyone can be a Catholic and believe that birth control is bad, and have a kid whenever they want, and own a gun, and they'll be damned if the government tries to stop them.

I wouldn't want this country to be any other way... but sometimes when people grow up making all the wrong moves and all kinds of mistakes, and then they fall back on American "rights" to proclaim that they are not "wrong" for doing what they did, that is when we start to have trouble. It is just fuel for the next generation to come in and make the same mistakes and have the same foolish pride that their parents had.

Wow this became a long rant!! Peace out. Guns don't kill people, ****ing idiots do.

 

The govt. is taking all the fun out of driving.

 

Ditto.

 

Your an Idiot.

You see what happens you take away guns look in the UK.. People just get stabbed. Without the guns the weak stay weak and the strong have an advantage. Its an ago old argument.. Fortunatly the UK is proving that Guns dont kill people, criminals kill people..

Ban Criminal!!

Ban Murder!! yeah.. That will work.. Just ban murder! Numbnut.