Great Britain: Satellites on speeders (Motorcycles' engine to be cut off via satellite - cars next)

The Sun (U.K.) ^ | Aukgust 10, 2006 | GEORGE PASCOE-WATSON

[Stoat]

EXCLUSIVE Satellites on speeders Go slow ... bikers face brake   By GEORGE PASCOE-WATSON Political Editor  SPEEDING bikers are to have their throttles shut down by SATELLITE, it was revealed last night. But motorcycle experts have condemned the spy-in-the-sky move as “lethally dangerous”. Riders breaking the speed limit will receive two warnings before their throttle is cut, leaving them without power. Roads minister Stephen Ladyman — a former boy racer — will endorse the controversial plan today. But one expert who trialled the Intelligent Speed Adaptation bike for the government, warned: “This will have profoundly dangerous consequences.”   Big Brother bid ... Ladyman   Bikers’ engines will be adapted to carry a spy-in-the-sky control. Those who speed will alert satellites, which will send back a warning to the rider. A beep will sound in the helmet before the saddle starts to shake violently. Those who ignore the warnings will have their throttle gradually shut as they ride. Ministers are also planning to use the technology in cars. The move is certain to be condemned by drivers’ groups and even motoring organisations. Experts say it is vital drivers can call on extra power to get OUT of a dangerous situation and the plan may cost lives. The Transport Department last night insisted Mr Ladyman is unlikely to make the ISA bike compulsory.

[Stoat]

Not compulsory...yet.
You know how it goes. Optional this year, compusory next year!

Agreed.  Remember when they were just "testing" red light cameras ?

But anyone worth his salt will be able to bypass/remove this technology.

True, but it will not be something that scrupulously law-abiding people will be comfortable in doing.  There is also the chance of HEAVY fines if a person's vehicle is randomly inspected and found to have a modification of this sort. I think that they impose massive fines here in the USA if emissions controls or catalytic converters are messed with, don't they? 

And a great many folks are simply not technically inclined....I know that Momma Stoat would never be able to accomplish this, although she never speeds, of course  :-)

[RFC_Gal]

This thing most likely uses GPS, what happens when it can not get a good signal? When it fails will the bike work at all?

It isn't like it is that hard to make a short range GPS jammer.

[Stoat]

The problem is that the average citizen shouldn't even have to worry about crap like that.

True.  It's a terrible intrusion into the very fabric of one's life and the essence of a free society.

 I seriously wonder if it's just the culture in Britain that makes the acceptance of nanny-state laws much easier than in the US.

I believe so.  The Slippery Slope argument and all that.....

 Over here, we'll put up a good fight at the very least.

I sincerely hope so....we are certainly having difficulty defending our borders and getting a consensus even on something so very obvious as the threat of Islamo-Nazism.

We already have one in this threat who is perfectly content to allow such an intrusion just because he/she doesn't like the noise of a healthy motorcycle!

[A CA Guy]

I exactly agree with your #2.

A car would lose power steering, maybe some brakes and God only knows what could happen.

[beaversmom]

ping

[Gator113]

I'm with you!

If they ever try that in the USA... and should such action make my bike go down.... and should my Bride get hurt as a result....they best pray to God that they can also shut down my guns and my heart at the same time.

This plan is stupid!

[LibWhacker]

Oh, that'll be fun... You're in the midst of passing a bus, or a line of 3 or 4 18-wheelers, when suddenly they cut your power. You ever see a head-on crash on the highway between a bike and a car? Not pretty.

[Stoat]

This thing most likely uses GPS, what happens when it can not get a good signal? When it fails will the bike work at all?

The ISA Project UK The System

The System

Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) is one of the most promising Intelligent Transport Systems in terms of its potential impact on safety. It is a system by which the vehicle "knows" the permitted or recommended maximum speed for the road. The standard system uses an in-vehicle digital road map onto which speed limits have been coded, combined with a positioning system which could be GPS, i.e. the satellite Global Positioning System, but could also be GPS enhanced with map matching and dead reckoning.

ISA can take various forms:

In terms of intervention level, it can be:

Advisory ISA:	the driver is informed of the limit and of violations but there is no direct link between this information and the vehicle controls
Voluntary ISA:	the system is linked to the vehicle controls but the driver can choose when to have the system enabled
Mandatory ISA:	no override of the system is possible

The speed limit information can potentially be extended to incorporate lower speeds at certain locations in the network and even in the future variation with current network conditions, based on weather, traffic density, the presence of incidents etc.

 

It isn't like it is that hard to make a short range GPS jammer.

Not for someone like Momma Stoat....also, most people are scrupulously law-abiding and would be terrified of the random vehicle checks that they have in Great Britain as well as the HUGE fines that would be meted out to scofflaws.

[DoughtyOne]

How about a satellite that monitors public officials. When found with their heads up their a---s, they get one electric shock. The second time it's strong enough to make them pass out. The third time they are expelled from office.

[Stoat]

How about a satellite that monitors public officials. When found with their heads up their a---s, they get one electric shock. The second time it's strong enough to make them pass out. The third time they are expelled from office.

So, it's your goal to remove ALL public officials from office?   :-) 

(not that I find much fault with that......)

"snicker"

[DoughtyOne]

Yep! If the head fits...

Heh heh heh...

[carumba]

How about a satellite that monitors public officials?
By Jove, I think you're on to something. We could click onto a site see the latest antics and vote thumbs up or down depending on which way the wind blows. Letters, email, and voting every other year or six will be so retro.

[Jaysun]

Imagine rushing your wife or child to the hospital only to have the engine disabled along the way. This is absurd.

[KneelBeforeZod]

WWGRD?

what would ghost rider do?

[Stoat]

Imagine rushing your wife or child to the hospital only to have the engine disabled along the way. This is absurd.
 

Anyone who would dream up a plan such as this, much less implement it, is a true Socialist and has absolutely no faith in or regard for the concept of individuality or personal freedom.  The notion that "the State knows best, in any and all circumstances, and you must bend before it or face the consequences, you quivering jellyfish" has been brought to a new extreme here. It will sadden me greatly if our British Friends allow this insanity to be realized.

[Razz Barry]

Someone will have a way to bypass it the day this comes into effect. Will likely make some good money doing it.

[DoughtyOne]

Heh heh, scarey...

[Jaysun]

The notion that "the State knows best, in any and all circumstances, and you must bend before it or face the consequences, you quivering jellyfish" has been brought to a new extreme here. It will sadden me greatly if our British Friends allow this insanity to be realized.

If this is realized our British Friends should show the state just how reliant it is upon the (mostly voluntary) civility of the citizens.

[DustyMoment]

Roads minister Stephen Ladyman — a former boy racer — will endorse the controversial plan today.

Some jokes just write themselves!!

On the serious side, not only is this an incredibly dangerous and insane thing to do, politically, it is the most extreme level of nanny-state socialism. It's a good thing our forefathers cut the ties with Great Britain over 200 years ago over taxes . . . . .