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.
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.
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