[Barry N]

Found this on our company news service this morning...

Speeding motorists to be slowed from space
Straits Times (Singapore) 10/10/02
author: Agence France-Presse
(c) 2001 Singapore Press Holdings Limited

PARIS - France is preparing to test satellite technology that will automatically override driver control and slow speeding cars, the motoring magazine Auto Plus and vehicle maker Peugeot disclosed on Tuesday.

'For the driver, this means the accelerator will be inoperable, because the fuel injection will be regulated by an onboard computer which itself will be connected to a global positioning system unit,' the magazine reported.

Drivers breaking the speed limit will either see a warning message flash up, or suddenly discover the automatic cut-off has kicked in, slowing them down to the legal speed limit.

The experiment will proceed in two steps.

First, two cars will be tested this week by researchers at the National Institute for Research into Transport and Safety.

Then, within a six-month period, 20 other vehicles - 10 Peugeots and 10 Renaults - will be used by around 100 motorists in Paris suburbs.

During the period of the experiment, however, drivers will be able to turn off the satellite override by kicking down hard on the accelerator.

Auto Plus said the project's cost was estimated at 5.6 million euros (S$9.9 million), and that it could be ready to be marketed in 2010.

 

[PSB]

Nothing a magnetic sign strategically placed over the GPS antenna can't fix

.

 

[Horizon200]

Why does the name HAL come to mind?

 

[SurfishinJim]

Don't worry, this will never happen in this country. Our states are too dependant on revenues generated from speeding tickets. That why we have are forced to drive 65mph on interstates designed to be driven at 80 mph in cars with technology 35 years old.
I would love to see what would happen if no one in this country got a speeding ticket for one year. Actually I wouldn't. Our taxes would go through the roof.

 

[PWildcat]

Forget about speeding tickets, what about emergency situations? I'm not necessarily talking about pregnant woman in the back kind of emergency, I'm talking about guy just behind your door and to the right has a blow-out kind of emergency. This happened to me right after I got my license, and the only way I survived was by punching the gas and getting out of his way. He ended up swerving back and forth across all lanes before rolling over a few times. If this big brother crap had been in use then, I'd probably be typing with a pencil between my teeth right now.

Brent

 

[Tim Cronin]

what next?
moniters in the back seat?
TEC

 

[kadunkadunk]

With one hand on the Steering wheel and one on the Shifter, lighting up the rear wheels...

"So as we set out this year to defeat the divisive forces that would take freedom away, I want to say those words again for everyone within the sound of my voice to hear and to heed, and especially for you, Mr. Gore: From my cold dead hands!"

—NRA President Charleton Heston
129th Annual NRA Meeting, May 20 2001

 

[David G]

Dumbest thing I've ever heard of.

I know it doesn't happen often, but the first time someone needs to speed up to avoid an accident and can't, this will get scrapped.

 

[oldstanger]

Never been to France, (this is a good reason NOT to go)so I have no idea what their highway speed limits are. How in the hell is the 'space eye' going to know if you are in a 25, 35, 45, 55, or 70 MPH speed zone!?! I think I'll nominte this for the "Darwin Awards"!! Got to be one of the DUMBEST uses of $$ I've ever heard of!!

Steve

 

[Snake-4-U]

Sounds like yet another way to CASH in on the automotive industry. Those poor French folks will be forced to pay a "space cam operation fee" or a "satellite monitoring fee" Next up: The right to pass lawsuits! Why not just slap a micro chip in every newborns noggin so they can track the "Cranial Speed" of all citizens, and deliver shock therapy when you speed!

 

[CNIDog]

As if being French wasn't punishment enough!

 

[Gatorac]

Maybe we should charge the french for the use of our GPS satilites.

 

[ffrcobra]

Just what we need, another thing to break. Hopefully they don't let Microsoft write the code or it will crash daily.

Galt

PS - I've been to France and their biggest traffic problem is all the motorcycles that ride between the cars (i.e. two cars side by side in adjoining lanes, the bike rides between them). I think everyone who has a motorcycle does it.

 

[CobraEarl]

That is not the way it will work.....

The way it WILL work IS....

Your GPS knows were you are.
SO, the car can be told what the speed limit is WHERE YOU ARE.

If you excede it, YOU WILL be issued a ticket, You will be ratted out by our own car.

THE TECHNOLOGY EXISTS right now for this to be reality.

THis will generate even MORE revenue for our All Knowing Government to waste.

earl

 

[RickWv]

So the computer is for fuel mileage and emission control. SURE!!!! LONG LIVE THE POTATO!!!!!!!

[ October 10, 2002, 07:43 PM: Message edited by: RickWv#3159 ]

 

[Bullstaff]

GPS tech is already used in this country by the big trucking companies, Werner, Schnider, Swift, ect, ect. GPS satalite tracking and vehicle CPU allows the company to know exactly where the truck is, its MPH, average MPG, idle time, and the truck can be shut down if it is stolen.
Now the government wants to put black-boxes in there, the same thing used in airplanes. How would you like a box in your house recording evrything you say or do.

 

[SurfishinJim]

Earl has hit in right on the head.

 

[Brendan]

I seem to remember a story about a rental car company in Connecticut (I think) that tried this. They put GPS trackers in their cars, and whenever the car went above 65, they issued a $150 fine to the driver. To my knowledge, the state supreme court ruled they couldn't do this, but it shows that the capability is there.

Brendan

 

[Brendan]

I was right. Check out these Links from a post on Slashdot back in july. Interesting reading.

Brendan

 

[aumoore]

"Then, within a six-month period, 20 other vehicles - 10 Peugeots and 10 Renaults - will be used by around 100 motorists in Paris suburbs"

Another reason not to buy a Peugeot or Renault besides they are P.O.S.

I like the Potato comment.