Big Brother in your car

And the first person to die because they couldn't go fast enough to avoid a problem will be the death of THIS device.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Canadian auto regulators are testing a system that would enforce speed limits by making it harder to push down the car's gas pedal once the speed limit is passed, according to a newspaper report.

The system being tested by Transport Canada, the Canadian equivalent of the U.S. Department of Transportation, uses a global positioning satellite device installed in the car to monitor the car's speed and position. If the car begins to significantly exceed the speed limit for the road on which it's travelling the system responds by making it harder to depress the gas pedal, according to a story posted on the Toronto Globe and Mail's Website.

The pilot test, using 10 cars driven by volunteers, is believed to be the first in North America, although similar systems have been tested in several European countries, according to the newspaper.

The agency is also testing another system that warns drivers with a voice alarm and a light whenever they start to speed, the newspaper said. Those systems are already on sale, according to the report. The company that makes the alarm device, the Otto Driving Companion, has already sold 400 of the units in Winnipeg alone, the newspaper said. Top of page

Reply to
Rich
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Would it not just be easier to install a governor on each vehicle?

Reply to
Spike

A governor wouldn't work in the same way. You could still go 65 in a 25 zone. This would prevent this, as it incorporates the road you are travelling on into the data. This worries me. What happens if you are traveling off a public road, where it is legal to go any speed (like a dragstrip, or autox course) Does the system recognize this, or just use the road closest to where you are? Would police have access to this information, as it would track position. I hope this doesn't make it to the US

CBeech

Reply to
CBeech

Agreed. I was thinking highway, not other.

My guess would be transponders which tell the car the max speed and it adjusts the chip. So, you could have transponders at a dragstrip which tell the chip that max speed is 500 mph or whatever, which would free the car to go at max.... on the Salt Flats it would say 1000mph and, so far, nothing would be impeded.

Of course, the next step is automatic citations, which would free up law enforcement for other duties (like guarding Dunkin Donuts as some people seem to think is the only other thing we do).

....or, it could be the lead in for auto piloting. The beginning of the end for driving.

Reply to
Spike

I remember my old 1990 Probe LX had an alarm that you could set when the speed went above a defined limit.

What I'm envisioning is a bunch of people walking around with huge muscles in their right legs and little shrively left legs from all the workouts to push down the gas pedal. Everyone will be able to quickly identify the lead-foot drivers!

And what would happen to the cars when they hit those hidden speed traps where the speed limits suddenly drop by 30mph or more? Will the gas pedal throw your foot back?

Rich wrote:

Reply to
J. Michael Gilker

Or lakes. Speed is unlimited on the lakes up here. I always thought it would be cool to call Onstar from the middle of the lake with a flat tire call.

Rob

Reply to
trainfan1

My 68' Camaro has a similar device tied into the speedometer. It's called a speed warning indicator. Fancy terminology for a buzzer set off when the mph needle passes the adjustable setpoint needle.

...Ron

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68' Camaro RS 88' Firebird Formula 00' Mustang GT Vert
Reply to
RSCamaro

The unit would most likely be a GPS receiver only. Which only receives the satellite signals and does not return any data to the satellites.

Reply to
Slightly Graying Wolf

Police would not yet have access, however, under the Patriot Act, that might happen in the future. Meanwhile, DO NOT travel with you cell phone turned on if you don't want to be tracked.....

Of course, there may be some question as to whether the military has the means to track any unit accessing the GPS system and home in with a smart missile or bomb : 0 ) There is some paranoia for the masses... LOL

Reply to
Spike

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