I'm Sorry, Dave, You're Speeding

Wired News ^ | 02:00 AM Mar. 04, 2004 PT | Patrick Gray

[JOAT]

MELBOURNE, Australia -- At the Melbourne Motor Show last week, Toyota unveiled a controversial concept car that would very closely monitor, and in some cases restrict, the actions of its driver -- including refusing to turn on.

To drive the sleek Toyota Sportivo, a driver would have to enter a memory card into its console to turn on the engine. Based on the driver's experience and driving record, the car adjusts its engine performance, cutting back for motorists with less experience or spotty driving records.

[JOAT]

"Drivers of the future who have grown up in an electronic age of heavy remote speed camera enforcement measures and electronic tollway charging systems are accepting of new technology that assists their lifestyle as well as monitoring it," a Toyota press release about the car says. "It is essential for drivers to be fully and accurately informed in this era of increasing electronic surveillance."

Gee, quit fighting, this is inevitable. Just accept your chains with a bland smile.

[stylin_geek]

How long before stolen or counterfeit cards would be become a huge business?

[jigsaw]

Would like an answer in minutes or seconds?

[537 Votes]

I want Larry Ellison to have this car.

[RightWhale]

Our cars already have enough robotics to drive themselves. And they should drive themselves, freeing us from our self-perpetuated prole chains.

[Enterprise]

"It is essential for drivers to be fully and accurately informed in this era of increasing electronic surveillance."

Oh yeah? Well surveil THIS ya ijit!

[sauropod]

BOHICA.

Toyota and Australia can go f*ck themselves!

[JOAT]

How long before stolen or counterfeit cards would be become a huge business?

That's why we'll get them under the skin in short order. Can't have your "papers" missing, after all, they'll want you to show your ID for everything in the future:

And Australia's federal government has considered a universal ID, called the Australia Card. The proposed card would store a wide array of personal information, and Australians would have to carry it at all times to obtain employment, health care and government services.

Coming to our shores soon!

[sauropod]

Although I do see the benefits in one particular case to a car that can drive itself.

[JOAT]

our self-perpetuated prole chains.

I like this one: Phone and GPS devices let the driver keep track of friends' whereabouts.

Cause they'll be chipped at all times too don't cha know...Won't that be special? Everyone can be located by their "friends" at ANY time!

[Centurion2000]

disgusting

[Kirkwood]

I predict they will millions. </sarcasm>

[RonHolzwarth]

Well, there is something to be said for a vehicle like this in SOME ->I SAID S-O-M-E<- situations!

For instance, commuters in areas such as Los Angeles, just MIGHT be passengers in cars whizzing by at 90 MPH, instead of the average what? 2 or 3 mph? during rush hour!

It was rather obvious to me while I was there that the number of cars passing a given spot in the parking lots they call Interstates near LA is NO GREATER than would be the case if ALL the cars were doing 90 mph on the way home!

Granted, away from rush hour traffic it wouldn't be much fun to drive, but I bet there are those in and near big cities that would enjoy getting home in 15 minutes instead of 3 hours as it is now.

And maybe have another car for when you are visiting other parts of the country.

Face it, the abilities of all drivers is not the same. An army of EXCEPTIONAL drivers could do over 70 MPH all the way home in many large cities.

Maybe the "auto controls" could take over only on SOME trafficways?

Then, when you reached your own neighborhood, the car would drive normally.

I really think something like this will happen someday, probably not for a hundred years though.

[AmericaUnited]

Exactly. Zillions of kids would just fork over $100 to some website for the "Al Unser Jr" profile card.

Unlimited top end, etc., etc.

[lainie]

Michael: "KITT I need you!"

KITT: "Its about time!"

[stylin_geek]

A rhetorical answer to a rhetorical question. Behold, symmetry has been achieved!

[JOAT]

Speaking of Hasselhoff..... Press Here

Not for the faint of heart!

(Push Play)

[Cultural Jihad]

Gee, quit fighting, this is inevitable. Just accept your chains with a bland smile.

LOL! Thanks for the chuckle!

[Petronski]

Welcome to FreeRepublic. I love your turn of phrase here:

Gee, quit fighting, this is inevitable. Just accept your chains with a bland smile.

[Cultural Jihad]

Interesting post.