Future premier of Alberta?
Posted on 02/02/2008 5:31:47 PM PST by BGHater
EDMONTON -- Chronic speeders could find their cars automatically slowing down when they try to pass the posted speed limit if Paul Boase has his way.
The Transport Canada researcher has been road-testing a device that combines a global positioning system and a speed map with a way to override the car's manual controls. He presented his findings at a traffic conference Thursday in Edmonton.
"The technology has the ability of just saying, okay the posted speed limit is 50, so we'll let you go 55, that's it," Boase said.
He tested the technology on 10 volunteers in the Ottawa area. In that test, the device was fixed so drivers found the gas pedal difficult -- though not impossible -- to press if they were over the limit.
The technology worked but speed maps would have to be developed for all roads before the device could be implemented nationally.
Theoretically, the device could come with every new vehicle, but the first application would likely be for habitual speeders, or drivers whose speeding causes a serious accident, he said.
A judge could suggest the offender apply for the device to be installed as part of a sentence, similar to the way drunk drivers can get an Ignition Interlock device now. Interlock requires drivers to pass a breath test before their car will start.
Ultimately, Boase hopes it can help change people's attitude toward speeding.
"What you basically find is for drivers who need (the device) the most, they like them the least," Boase said. "That's why habitual offenders might be the right place to start."
Transport Canada also has tested a device that gives a verbal warning when the driver speeds. They've held focus groups on why people speed and tested the effectiveness of several commercials that warn young drivers about the dangers of speeding.
Liz Owens, director of policy research and public education for Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation, said the department isn't considering the speed devices now, but would certainly be interested in the research.
Criminal lawyer Brian Hurley said the Interlock program for chronic drunk drivers has been helpful for some of his clients.
But not the last. The last will be that everyone is forced to have them.
Just wait for my lawsuit when it fails and limits my car to 5 MPH on the freeway.
They are saying
ALL YOUR GAS PEDAL ARE BELONG TO US
0 is a powerful number,,
Future premier of Alberta?
It would be ironic if he would cash in the chips while trying to speed around a slow truck....
Recall that during the Carter Administration, the head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Joan Claybrook seriously proposed that cars exceeding the government’s generous speed limit of 55 MPH would automatically have their horns start to honk and the headlights would flash.
It never ends even if the players change over time.
smile when you say that.
saving the world one rule at a time
This is an example of why politicians should be neutered
The jerk probably drives 10 mph under the speed limit... in the left lane.
Only place I don't want to see it is in my rear view mirror.
Yeah, great idea. You’re passing someone, they speed up a bit as you do, you see a car is coming the other way toward you, you step on the gas to finish passing and get back over to the right, and all of a sudden you lose control of your car.
Great idea.
Governor Corzine of New Jersey should hire this transport manager to service the NJ State Police automobiles. You know, just to make sure the Governor obeys the speed limits.
For the life of me, I can’t figure out why all of the leaders of the free world are all demented morons.
They've held focus groups on why people speed
And when they figured out the obvious answer, which is that speed limits are set purely for revenue generation and are unrelated to safety, they undoubtedly made sure the results would never be seen by the public.
Ya know, every 3 years I attend a 6 hour 'course' which upon completion grants me a 10% insurance reduction or 3 point violation reduction. Since I've never had any 'points' put on my license (knock on wood), I attend this thing for the 10% insurance reduction.
Almost every time that I've seen this course, they run a bunch of numbers which state that driving 40mph in a 30mph zone only gains a millisecond or two. Which is far from the truth, have these 'instructors' actually driven on congested urban roads before? Sometimes that extra 10mph will get ya thru a known long red light intersection while the light is still green, sometimes it will get you thru a railroad crossing before the gates come down and there is a 5 minute delay while the train does its thing on the train tracks.
Just food for thought, thats all
Tightening up the standard a bit is the only issue.
I hope you said that only for rhetorical noise value.
In fact, if I have any doubts I sometimes stop at the track, put my car in Park, get out and walk closer to see and hear if there's a "hidden train" coming.
If the speed limit is 65, why do we need cars able to double that in this day of having to suck oil out of the Middle East? Slap a governor on ALL vehicles at 75. Save oil, save money, save lives.
“I can’t figure out why all of the leaders of the free world are all demented morons.”
It is because they think that us peasants are all demented morons.
Right!
And another scenario — you’re being tailgated by a Mac truck, doing 70, then suddenly your car slows down 15 mph. Bye-bye!
My solution is this: drive my crotch-rocket a lot more often.
P.S. Are you "the Buckwheat" or just using that name?
I was just thinking about all the lawsuits from women in labor!
“Criminal lawyer Brian Hurley said the Interlock program for chronic drunk drivers has been helpful for some of his clients.”.....Jeezzz! So would taking the keys away and impounding the car!
Well, always keep your wire clippers handy.
Just remember when looking for hidden trains :
The Whistles go WHOO WHOO!!!!
We know that's going to happen. We can also expect some typos in the speed maps. ...then there are service roads or driving on the margins of the road.
OR, you are pulling away from a traffic light and you see you are about to be rear-ended by a truck going full speed. You floor it, but the little computer says, NO, you must die!
Great idea.
A good time to quote PJ O’Rourke: “Liberalism is just communism sold by the drink.”
It’s because intelligent people have better things to do with their lives than muck around in politics.
I think that anyone who wants to be a politician should automatically be disqualified from office. If we want intelligent, sane politicians we are going to have to draft them from public life.
They won’t volunteer.
hehe. I've seen that class. They don't like it when you point out the math for driving 75 mph for 10 hours, vs. driving 50mph for 15 hours, and pointing out that until they put those little ridges along ths sides of the road that the leading cause of fatal accidents on the NY State Thruway (and the main highways of several other states) - after drunk driving - was falling asleep while driving.
A friend of mine had exactly that accident. He was sitting, waiting for on-coming traffic to pass to make a left-turn, and a guy came up behind him and didn't slow down or change into the other lane, so when it became obvious that the other driver wasn't going to stop, he floored the accellerator. The other guy started braking after the point where he'd been stopped.
That's inspiring. Thank you.
This could give new meaning to the “blue screen of death”.
No thanks.
Agreed.
I hope you said that only for rhetorical noise value.
No rhetoric involved whatsoever. If you'd interpreted the post carefully than it would point out that the extra 10mph "prevented" having to get stuck at the RR crossing or the 'long red light'. I'm not talking about 'racing the train to the crossing', I'm talking about getting thru it *before* the red crossing lights flash and the gates start coming down ... big difference.
In fact, if I have any doubts I sometimes stop at the track, put my car in Park, get out and walk closer to see and hear if there's a "hidden train" coming.
Obviously we live in different parts of the country. There are no "hidden trains" around here, just the trains that run on a regular schedule from NYC to my locality, back and forth. With all due respect to a fellow FReeper, if I did what you just said you do at a RR crossing, then there would be hell to pay from fellow motorists and also the Cops, yes the Cops too! "Move along, wise guy" they'd say. No joke.
They'll back those cars right up to the road, leaving you a blind spot ~ and no signal light.
I used to visit many printing plants out in wide open country. This is a common problem.
I did not get hit by a train traveling in my direction behind the box cars on the sidings.
Now I did get hit by a train once ~ in a Willys Jeep Stationwagon that was sliding down an icy hill into its path.
There's no room in my life for a second train collision.
Anytime ;0)
If it were, it would radically reduce speeding ticket revenue. The point of speed limit enforcement is not to make people drive at safe speeds, but to turn officers into profit centers. This system would scuttle the whole deal, and will therefore never happen.
One can only hope the software is not designed by Microsoft or there will be dead cars everywhere … waiting for the latest upgrade.
Tata's for all!
Since these people are so fond of European ideas, let’s try this out on the Autobahn first and see how it works out.
I’m afraid I don’t understand what you’re trying to say, nor what your reference to 120MPH implies.
Big Brudda knows what’s best for you. Always and forever.
Just what I want....A nice pair of Tata’s in my garage!
If the cars had Microsoft software, you’d just have to: shut all the windows; turn the car off (by hitting the “Start” button); turn the car back on (hit the “Start” button again); and then open all the windows, and you’re set to go.
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