Road safety or enforcement device?

[Matthew]

That could be a question about any of the camera devices currently used on British roads, but it isn't on this occasion. This is a new device, to take the place of cat's eyes in the road, currently on trial on the M8 in Scotland:


These devices can measure speed, and monitor an individual vehicle's progress across the road network. However, according to the authorities, there are no plans to use them as a method of speed limit enforcement.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3645359.stm

"Intelligent Road Stud" - latest weapon in the anti-motorist persecution war, or genuine road safety device?

[Jim]

No doubt they will be used in the future to persecute the motorist but if they are only get used for road safety then they could be a good thing especailly if they can warn of adverse conditions like freezing road surfaces etc...

[Munki]

Originally Posted by Matthew

monitor an individual vehicle's progress across the road network.

Yet another step toward the 'Big Brother' state...

[boxman]

aren't we all ready there :!

boxman :wink:

[GearHead]

I hate big brother systems No freedom I tell ya!

[Cuba]

The whinging never stops about the speed cameras does it.

[Cuba]

Campers! your camping. Bluddy snipers, they're just camping...waiting for someone to come by.
Those damn police with their cameras only get you if you speed you wollys. Jesus wept get over it and slow down FFS!

[Jetset]

Firstly, well said cuba if you are not speeding it doesn't matter how many different ways they enforce the legal limit, if you break the law it's fair to be caught.

Secondly, I'm not sure how a road stud can catch u speeding, it can't provide any form of court submissible evidence without a camera attached to photograph your car breaking the limit. Even if we were all forced to have RFID numberplate transponders fitted, this still would not be court submissible evidence without a photo.. which the road stud cannot do.. so no danger of it being used for speed enforcement, it may provide data which means the police more closely monitor places that people speed, but the stud itself can't do anything.

I am suprised at the knee jurk stuff from the RAC, I would have thought they would think it through before going down the "big brother" route, my respect for their opinon has dropped considerably. It's the usual fly off the handle as soon as anyone starts taking about speeding rubbish.

[Marrk]

Okay, guy in front is cruising at a leisurely 50 mph, simgle lane road, speed limit 60mph...you overtake at 60mph...slowly so you don't break the speed limit. Car or lorry appears the otherway...you put your foot down to ensure you get by safely and speed goes over the limit...device in cats eyes monitors this and you end up with fine and points on licence.
Same person overtaking, as you start to pull out he speeds up so you are alongside doing 60 mph...you speed up to get by...you get fined, he gets away scott free!!

Glad to know someone in the world doesn't speed, nanny state subscriber, me thinks!!!

[Jetset]

Originally Posted by Marrk

Okay, guy in front is cruising at a leisurely 50 mph, simgle lane road, speed limit 60mph...you overtake at 60mph...slowly so you don't break the speed limit. Car or lorry appears the otherway...you put your foot down to ensure you get by safely and speed goes over the limit...device in cats eyes monitors this and you end up with fine and points on licence.
Same person overtaking, as you start to pull out he speeds up so you are alongside doing 60 mph...you speed up to get by...you get fined, he gets away scott free!!

Glad to know someone in the world doesn't speed, nanny state subscriber, me thinks!!!

You alternative solution is to break and pull back in behind, thus not breaking the limit and therefore in no danger from speed monitoring devices.

Secondly see my comment above about the studs and court submissible evidence

[Cuba]

Originally Posted by Marrk

Okay, guy in front is cruising at a leisurely 50 mph, simgle lane road, speed limit 60mph...you overtake at 60mph...slowly so you don't break the speed limit. Car or lorry appears the otherway...you put your foot down to ensure you get by safely and speed goes over the limit...device in cats eyes monitors this and you end up with fine and points on licence.
Same person overtaking, as you start to pull out he speeds up so you are alongside doing 60 mph...you speed up to get by...you get fined, he gets away scott free!!

Glad to know someone in the world doesn't speed, nanny state subscriber, me thinks!!!

If this happens then you've started overtaking without sufficient clear road in sight to complete a safe overtaking. I'm no nanna, speed in a straight line doesn't do much for me. I carry it through to interesting cornering where I'm still within the limit (though probably dangerous driving in the eye's of the law).
If your behind some nanna cruising slowly it's not necessarily because she/he is senile. Maybe they're just going to drink gin with their buddys. It's not going to get your there any quicker to risk yours and other peoples lives while making risky Maneuver for little gain.

[Marrk]

You alternative solution is to break and pull back in behind, thus not breaking the limit and therefore in no danger from speed monitoring devices.

And what happens when the car behind has moved up and there is no space??

Secondly see my comment above about the studs and court submissible evidence

This technology is just the start, the thin edge of the wedge, obviously automatic speed controllers, governers and satellite monitoring will all be welcome in the cars you have?

I thought not.....

[Jetset]

Originally Posted by Marrk

This technology is just the start, the thin edge of the wedge, obviously automatic speed controllers, governers and satellite monitoring will all be welcome in the cars you have?

I thought not.....

Lol the level of paranoia displayed here is laughable, I assume you sleep with a tin foil hat on?

Seriously, a UK insurance company is offering to put a satellite tracker in your car and base your insurance on your driving patterns. The idea is that sensible drivers pay less for insurance at the cost of bad drivers. As I classify myself as a sensible driver, who doesn't scream down motorways at 100+ mph, I am quite keen to try this, if it reduces my insurance cost I'd be happy to use it.

IMO the public roads would be a much safter place with enforced speed limits, automatic driving systems etc. (as seen in minority report), if people want a driving experience then driving centers can cater for that.

[900t]

Please tell me then why driving over the legal limit of speed has anything, at all, to do with safety or anything other than simply lining the pockets of the government with my dollars?!

Who has a better idea of what a safe secure speed is? Me, with a excellent knowledge of the abilities of my car and myself, or some bureaucrat in a land far far away?

[ragtopcav]

Y'know if gps was available as a system to prove that you drove within limits then I'd be near the front of the queue, especially if big insurance savings were available. Trouble is that the gps system does not take into account the situation on the road at that point in time, due to traffic volume or weather the limit could be unsafe to drive at, but such excess speed would be sanctioned by virtue of the 'gps thingy saying it's within the limit'

[Cuba]

Originally Posted by 900t

Please tell me then why driving over the legal limit of speed has anything, at all, to do with safety or anything other than simply lining the pockets of the government with my dollars?!

Who has a better idea of what a safe secure speed is? Me, with a excellent knowledge of the abilities of my car and myself, or some bureaucrat in a land far far away?

Forgive me, your absolutley right! People should just go as fast as they think is safe. Yeah now that's a really good idea. Ever thought of career in politics? With those sort of brilliant ideas you will have boundless amounts of support.

[Marrk]

I've never met any driver who hasn't exceeded 70mph on motorway, nor anyone who hasn't done more than 60 in a 60 limit. I must get out more

[GearHead]

"its only illegal if you get caught" That being said I thought the speed liit was the route number( 94 on route 101) hehehe. long time ago

[Slowpc]

Well , here in Mass there are speed sensors around on teh highways so that the local news can tell you the exact speed the cars are going at the time. Helpful to know how much traffic is going and how fast so it is not a big surprise to get stuck in traffic.

[Cuba]

Exceeding the speed limit may be very well in a controlled situation ie. race track. Your far less likely to encounter the unusual and unexpected events that jump out at us in normal traffic. It's not so much your ability to drive fast, but more your ability to stop fast.
We've been through this discussion time and time again. Speeding is against the law, we cannot doubt that it is dangerous. If you speed you put yourself and others at more risk. If you doubt this then I beleive you should not have the priviledge to possess a license to drive.