Robotic Cars

[yenrod]

I was thinking the other day about if all car (drivers) where to be driven at the given speed for the limit set and for any other users on the road but generally sticking to a 30 speed limit.


By a computer.

 

[downfader]

Theres been a couple of trials around europe (the netherlands I think have trialed it) where they have used satelite signals and transponders I think they're called to moderate the speed of a car or motorbike. The guy on the telly was sticking his foot to the metal and only getting 30 which was really cool.

 

[yenrod]

Theres been a couple of trials around europe (the netherlands I think have trialed it) where they have used satelite signals and transponders I think they're called to moderate the speed of a car or motorbike. The guy on the telly was sticking his foot to the metal and only getting 30 which was really cool.

Sounds great but the deal is - how would cyclists be dealt with: though if the Dutch have a hand in it cyclists will be forefront in safety thereof' !

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

Last time I was nearly killed the vehicle wasn't going anywhere near the limit. The driver just didn't possess a brain.

Why not fit all bikes with a transponder. Whenever a vehicle gets within 25 yards it's speed is limited to 5 mph more than the bike, and the vehicle will not allow steering input that takes it closer than 10 feet.

Oh, and of course the stereo starts blasting out "Learn to overtake safely you W&nker!!" at 100 decibels.

Of course this will never happen.

But speed limiting and automated speed and proximity related fining is one of the cornerstones of the new Galileo GPS system coming to a dashboard near you in the coming years.

 

[yenrod]

Last time I was nearly killed the vehicle wasn't going anywhere near the limit. The driver just didn't possess a brain.

Why not fit all bikes with a transponder. Whenever a vehicle gets within 25 yards it's speed is limited to 5 mph more than the bike, and the vehicle will not allow steering input that takes it closer than 10 feet.

Oh, and of course the stereo starts blasting out "Learn to overtake safely you W&nker!!" at 100 decibels.

Of course this will never happen.

But speed limiting and automated speed and proximity related fining is one of the cornerstones of the new Galileo GPS system coming to a dashboard near you in the coming years.

The soonerthe better Heh Nigel !

 

[Amanda P]

Oh, and of course the stereo starts blasting out "Learn to overtake safely you W&nker!!" at 100 decibels.

I like that bit of the idea.

If the driver does overtake safely, perhaps it could say something polite and encouraging afterwards? Or patronizing?

 

[hackbike 666]

Automatic Speed Limiters?

Might stop some comedians boy racing down the mile End Road and everywhere else.

 

[hambones]

There is mention of speed-limiting cars on the BBC website.

What a grotesque sanitised world some people strive for! Remember, those speed 'limits' should only be taken as guidelines.

 

[hackbike 666]

Speed Limits = Speed Limits + 50%.

 

[Tynan]

there's a fixation with speed, it might make accidents worse but the standout cause of accident is bad driving

 

[MacB]

Interesting concept and I get stuck in the middle on this one:-

1. I believe in individual responsibility, and punishing transgressors more severely, rather than punishing everyone to limit the idiots. We waste fortunes on schemes and ideas that were never needed for 99.9% of sensible folks.

2. I would quite like the speed limitation technology for built up areas, especially near schools.

A good example for me is the through road that my little estate is linked to. It's about 1.5 miles long and has an infant school near one end. A few years ago the council decided to take action against speeding on this road. Being fairly straight, and quiet, it was apparently used by boy racers at night, I hadn't ever been aware of this. My wife and I attended a meeting with the council held at the school, 2 of our children attended at that time. The idea that received majority support, from residents and parents, was to use speed cameras with average speed technology. What we actually got was every physical traffic calming measure known to man. There are chicanes at each end, 2 mini roundabouts, speed humps, rumble strips, varying road surface and varying colours of surface.

What this has done is turn a nice, leafy, road into an unpleasant experience for all, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists alike. Arguably it has also made it a less safe environment for school children. Drivers have to concentrate so much on negotiating the 'obstacle' course that their peripheral awareness is bound to suffer.

 

[downfader]

Interesting concept and I get stuck in the middle on this one:-

1. I believe in individual responsibility, and punishing transgressors more severely, rather than punishing everyone to limit the idiots. We waste fortunes on schemes and ideas that were never needed for 99.9% of sensible folks.

2. I would quite like the speed limitation technology for built up areas, especially near schools.

A good example for me is the through road that my little estate is linked to. It's about 1.5 miles long and has an infant school near one end. A few years ago the council decided to take action against speeding on this road. Being fairly straight, and quiet, it was apparently used by boy racers at night, I hadn't ever been aware of this. My wife and I attended a meeting with the council held at the school, 2 of our children attended at that time. The idea that received majority support, from residents and parents, was to use speed cameras with average speed technology. What we actually got was every physical traffic calming measure known to man. There are chicanes at each end, 2 mini roundabouts, speed humps, rumble strips, varying road surface and varying colours of surface.

What this has done is turn a nice, leafy, road into an unpleasant experience for all, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists alike. Arguably it has also made it a less safe environment for school children. Drivers have to concentrate so much on negotiating the 'obstacle' course that their peripheral awareness is bound to suffer.

"traffic calming" what a paradox! PITA more like.

I got chatting to a guy at work (and I've said this elswhere on the web) and he was in the Faulklands. Good head for cammo, we both said it would be funny if cops were kitted out in the stuff and took readings like that, lol! Place like the new forest are said to be full of deviant drivers...

 

[Tynan]

so like when the gatsos were painted gray and not signposted?

covert recodring then yeah?

 

[Chrisz]

I was thinking the other day about if all car (drivers) where to be driven at the given speed for the limit set and for any other users on the road but generally sticking to a 30 speed limit.


By a computer.

Sounds like a feckin nightmare to me

Far too much talk about how good it would be if cars were automated, speed limited etc. Can you imagine how much fun cycling would be if we were all automated, unable to go above 20mph, completely governed by some superior being?

As it is we are regulated more now than we have ever been - what next? Fashion Police to control obnoxious dressing, they could also control the socially undesirables, make things that some people see as unacceptable a crime etc. It is virtually impossible to stay 'off the radar' these days anyway - George Orwell must be laughing his cock off!!

One of the reasons I love cycling is the sense of freedom and exhilaration - it's for this same reason I love driving cars.

 

[Piemaster]

One of the UK universities (possibly Leeds) had a speed limited car that was shown on TV a few years ago.
I can't help but think a car like that would be driven like a dodgem though. Foot to the floor everywhere as the driver couldn't speed and takes some of the decision making and responsibility away. Removes one of those annoying driving distractions that they have away from adjusting the stereo or using the mobile.