[quote=Squidlord ]I know. I also tend to assume that the surface is a bit slippier than I think it is. (if that makes sense - I err on the side of caution). But I'll still need to hit the brakes sometimes to avoid a deer. But I'm prepared for this.
Cool - and with a camera, you'd be able to show why you had to brake 🙂
Cool - and with a camera, you'd be able to show why you had to brake
Can't fault your logic! Though it would be a pain if I had to keep sending footage off the insurers.
“I’ve had six points on my licence in the past few months because I’ve been driving above the speed limit because of the tailback behind me.”
As opposed to stopping at one of the frequent laybys on the A9 and letting the tailback past.
But I agree the A9 should be a 50mph limit for HGVs
[quote=irc ]
But I agree the A9 should be a 50mph limit for HGVs
And then they'd drive at 60mph....
Just a quick warning to those who might be so inclined. The "sample" apps available from insurance companies for mobile phones have persmissions that allow them to collect the data despite it being a demo. All they have to do is combine it with your mobile number and you have a potential black mark.
Personally I wouldn't mind cameras in case of an accident (my fault or someone elses) but I wouldn't like GPS logging etc, because it relies on someone elses interpretation of what GPS and accelerometer data means, and since I've no idea how the tech works (ok I know exactly how the tech works, I just don't have their algorithms to judge for myself), exactly how it scores me and exactly what it considers dangerous - I'm not going to have it reporting on me.
I once tried out an early version of this gadget when working for an intelligent sensor system group, it was designed to pick up on tired drivers by their steering inputs etc. It was convinced I was falling asleep down scottish country roads despite me plodding along in a company van. While this was an early version, I'm just not convinced the technology is trustworthy enough.
lots of people drive badly because they can get away with it, not being able to might be a good (and safe) thing. Witness all/most drivers driving to the letter of the law when there's a police car around, soon as the police car is off scene all bets are off again. I get pretty edgy about any company getting hold of my details but I think this could be a big step towards drastically reducing those ~2000 deaths p.a. our country suffers due to driving.Seriously, the amount of people willing to hand over control of their own lives to those who only wish to profit from them is absolutely terrifying.
Turkeys voting for Christmas indeed.
Of course closing the system from abuse by insurers or illegal drivers will be a sticking point.
Someone I knew was just driving along and someone was overtaking coming the other way on a blind bend and crashed into them - they didn't have control over that.
Total freedom is not a good idea, because people will use that freedom to do bad or stupid stuff.
Seriously, the amount of people willing to hand over control of their own lives to those who only wish to profit from them is absolutely terrifying.
+1 - once installed, this stuff will never be uninstalled, and who knows what kind of government we might have in 30 years' time?
Hah.. if we end up with a government determined to abuse human rights to that extent, a black box in your car is the least of your worries.
Hah.. if we end up with a government determined to abuse human rights to that extent, a black box in your car is the least of your worries.
To what extent?
Everyones already being "tracked" via mobile phones, debit cars, Nectar cards, email, social networking sites, security cameras and a hundreds of other things. The time to worry about this sort of thing has been and gone. Even with cars, numberplates are already tracked around the country with a network of cameras that the police have access too. Thats how they found that bloke who got lost on the m25 for 2 days ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-16193588).
If you're worried about an evil government getting in power and abusing their power, tracking cars via gps isn't going to make much difference either way.
GPS is possibly the easiest technology to circumvent too, since the signal is incredibly weak.
( http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/9096080/Organised-crime-routinely-jamming-GPS.html)
This forum really shows the difference between us all as humans.
I could not abide having something monitoring my driving for whatever purpose. I dislike it as a principal, its no-ones business what I get up to in my car or in the rest of my life.
Also as a couple of people mentioned I love my car and love driving and I do not drive to the letter of the law. I anticipate well and like to think I'm a reasonable driver but I also use that to determine when the letter of the law can be bent a little.
its no-ones business what I get up to in my car
Yes it is!
1) It's the business of everyone with whom you share the roads
2) More formally, as soon as you ask someone to underwrite your actions, it's 100% definitely someone else's business.
[quote=molgrips ]
Yes it is!
1) It's the business of everyone with whom you share the roads
2) More formally, as soon as you ask someone to underwrite your actions, it's 100% definitely someone else's business.
Exactly that. That's why we have laws about how you are supposed to behave when using the roads. Its just a disgrace that these laws aren't properly enforced.
thing is I think most drivers would say the same about themselves but it's pretty obvious a lot of them are talking bollocks. Maybe sticking the letter of the law might be a good thing...no?I anticipate well and like to think I'm a reasonable driver but I also use that to determine when the letter of the law can be bent a little.
<edit> plus what molgrips said
I anticipate well and like to think I'm a reasonable driver but I also use that to determine when the letter of the law can be bent a little.
You've just illustrated perfectly why 90% of drivers rate themselves as "above average".
I'll admit though that the way of dealing with road traffic has always been more signage, lower speed limits (often fairly arbitrarily determined), more nannying of drivers, more traffic lights and cameras but paradoxically, less enforcement.
The result is a frustrating trawl from light to light or a pootle along a road at 40mph when some sections of that road can be safely driven at 70mph... hence drivers get bored and frustrated.
That's exacerbated by the fact that cars now are safer and more isolating than ever, basically a lounge on wheels insulating the driver from any feelings of speed, noise and vibration so it's ever easier to speed and ever more annoying when big brother is telling you that you can't.
The result is a frustrating trawl from light to light or a pootle along a road at 40mph when some sections of that road can be safely driven at 70mph
In many cases they put the speed limits in after there have been many accidents on a stretch of road.
Eastern Avenue in Cardiff is now 50mph, but everyone disagrees with that and drives however fast they feel like. It used to be unrestricted, and there were so many accidents due to the crap sliproads and crap suburban drivers.
