Re: FN-FORUM [OT] Radar Detectors (Was: Design Critique)

date posted 25th January 2003 10:03

Quoting David Eckersall [EMAIL REMOVED]

> i've yet to work out why the hell speed limiters aren't placed in cars - we
> have the tech.

Because it would be an expensive failure.

Firstly you'd have to make sure the beasties are installed in every car - and
there would be incredible legal wranglings as people fought to create and
maintain loopholes for whatever reason (legitimate like not mucking up a
classic car and less so). It would also be staggeringly expensive.

Then you have to make sure that the technology is utterly reliable - that you
always, without fail, are constrained to the right speed in the right place -
what would happen if your car suddenly decided you were in a 20mph zone
(default) when you're cruising at 70 on the M1? It won't be - odds are that
you'll be able to buy a wireless "off switch" for the hardware before d-day
and afterward people who did something stupid will get off because the
hardware wasn't working.

If it *does* work then people will become even more stupid behind the wheel,
they will drive the cars like dodgems - foot flat to the floor to go since
they /can't/ speed - the technology won't let them - obviously they can't
drive too fast (yeah, right.)

Education, bigger sticks, technology where it can be effective (variable speed
limits, time over distance speed camera systems), changes in attitude so that
people use cars more appropriately (how many journies under 3 miles could be
undertaken by bike for example and do you /really/ need to *drive* half a mile
to buy milk and papers - as all too many people do.

James Murphy
Consett, County Durham.