Satellite-Enforced Speed Limits: A Glimpse Of Our Future?
September 17th, 2008 Posted in Speed Limits
The United Kingdom has always been at the forefront of the enforcement technology craze. Unfortunately, programs that are implemented there — extensive camera enforcement for example — often end up in the United States years later.
That’s what makes this story so frightening. An excerpt from the article:
Drivers could have their speed controlled by satellite to stop them from breaking the limit following a Government trial of new technology.
Cars fitted with the system would have their speed automatically monitored by satellites, which would also be programmed with the speed limits for different roads.
A motorist who tried to accelerate beyond the speed limit would find the system stopping the car from going any faster or issuing a warning instructing them to slow down.
[...]
Three types of the technology could be made available.
The first, known as “advisory”, would stop short of actually slowing the car down and would instead issue a voice alert reminding the motorist what the speed limit is.
A second version would either apply the brakes or cut the fuel supply to the engine, slowing it down to the speed limit, but a driver would be able to override the system – either by depressing the accelerator pedal firmly or pressing a button.
The third would take over complete control of the car and the driver would not be able to override the system at all.
Of course, in order to minimize opposition, the technology would be voluntary to start with:
The Department for Transport said that the installation of the technology would be voluntary, but it is already in talks with the motor industry over how it could be made available for those who wanted to buy it.
And by far, the most discouraging part of the article:
According to a poll carried out for the DfT, 54 percent of motorists would be willing to have the system installed in the car, if it was voluntary.
Other Related Articles
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- Nearly 80% Of Drivers Oppose 55 MPH National Speed Limit
- Utah Speed Limit Increase Has No Effect On Speed Or Safety
- Realistic Speed Limits Reduce Road Rage
- Traffic Tickets Are Big Business
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That’s just what we need! Considering that there ARE perfectly valid and legal reasons to briefly exceed the speed limit (accelerating on a downhill slope to get out of the way of a truck whose brakes have failed comes to mind, as does speeding up to clear an intersection to avoid getting T-boned by someone running a red light or stop sign). The extra time required to override the anti-speeding system could mean the difference between life and death (or at least serious injury). I hope the government and auto industries are prepared for the massive liability suits that could result from a case such as this.
Say no to big brother!
I wonder how honest that poll is. This comes from the same group that says people support user fees. As I recall there were over a million who signed a petition against it in the UK!
Dream on! The government would simply exempt themselves from prosecution.
Just pull the fuse to disable the system.
I am already convinced that Americans do not value their freedom; they are more concerned with what their neighbor is up to: how fast he drives, how much he pays in taxes, if he smokes in his home, etc. None of this is your business. If he’s too fast for you, pull over and let him pass; work for lower taxes for everyone; and forbid smoking in your own home, if you don’t like it, and don’t go to his. Freedoms disappear quickly but incrementally over time, never to return without spilling enormous quantities of innocent blood. This is another one of those windows through which it will fly away. After this, the car will go where someone else directs it to go. No OnStar or GPS for me!!
As an aside, this is as good an argument as any for Federalism: there is no possible way the constitution would permit the federal government to do such a thing. The states would be free to however. And if, say, Rhode Island was to do so, you might watch their population flee to neighboring states almost overnight — if of course, they valued their freedom over the illusion of safety.
What next implanting us with a microchip to see where we are at at all times of the day? This has serious safety issues many of which Eric already stated. What if the situation on the road calls for you to speed up in order to avoid a collision or something else. I’m sure we have all been in these situations before.
I can’t believe that people would voluntarily want this in their car. Maybe if you have a teen driver and you want to keep tabs on them but that is the only thing I could see this being useful for. Not only would thy know your speed, they would know who you are and where you go. Possibly even bringing it up in court like with the GPS.
Sometimes I wished I lived in the 1800’s with all of this tracking technology every where today. Technology is the death of our freedom and privacy. Not to mention how everyone is so damn nosy in the US worrying about their neighbor instead of themselves and the government.
This Orwellian wet dream would eliminate speeding…and all the jobs in enforcement…and all the cash from citations…and all the LE overtime in court…and the traffic court staffing…and all the extra insurance charges…naah…never happen here.
Oboy!!! More saftey and security!
A little freedom is a small price to pay for the lives that would be saved by such a system.
Since speeding is THE cause of traffic accidents, when speeding becomes impossible there will be no more crashes and the fatality/injury rate will drop to ZERO!!
Insurance companies will go out of business unless the government bails them out…no, wait…that’s already happening.
/sarcasm
[...] Speed Limits: A Glimpse Of Our Future? Satellite-Enforced Speed Limits: A Glimpse Of Our Future? September 17th, 2008 Posted in Speed Limits The United Kingdom has always been at the forefront [...]
to the comment Hub made. this system would only control the speed of the car. not take over control of the steering. so the assumption that there would be no more crashes and the fatalities and injuries would drop to zero should kind of be thought over a little more big guy.
other than that everyone is right that we need to start worrying about our damn selves rather than everybody else.
This is not a new idea back in 1979 Jimmy Carter proposed useing satellites to enforse the then 55 mph speed limit but the idea dieded down quickly while it can be done it is too expensive just to get someone going 56 mph our satellites need to be used for something more worthwile than just to catch speeders.
It will never happen. How do you prove who was operating the motor vehicle? This is why you don’t see speeding tickets based on your EZpass entrance and exit from the highways. Additionally how do they identify the vehicle as yours? They would need to have a satelite transmitter in each car sending information that identifies the owner of the vehicle. This type of story is nothing more than a scare tactic of the NMA to get you to separate from your money and either join or donate to the NMA.
Phil Mckrackin says:
This type of story is nothing more than a scare tactic of the NMA to get you to separate from your money and either join or donate to the NMA.
I say:
Mr McKrackin may have a point, and even if he’s right, I’m fine with that; the NMA may wish to separate me from my money, but they — unlike government at all levels — cannot use force to do so; it remains my choice. When the government wants to separate me from my money and I object, they can separate me from my freedom, home, and family in retaliation. The NMA only gets my cash if I CHOOSE to hand it over.
so you’d pay a stupidity tax to the NMA is what you are telling us?