I propose automatic infraction correction be built into all new cars.

[originalpckelly]

In this day and age we have massive traffic problems, when we could have it so much better. We're using roads that haven't advanced much since the electronic traffic signal was invented. We need to built a small computer into each car that can tell a driver the following information:

1. The current speed limit
2. When an emergency vehicle is present and where it is coming from
3. When they are driving in excess of the posted speed

It should also prevent:
1. Excessive speeding (10 MPH higher than the posted speed for the zone)
2. Car chases (the stop function could be remotely activated by a chasing police car)
3. Red light running, moving vehicle into pedestrian cross walk, when a pedestrian is in the walkway. To prevent accident as a result of red light running, the computer could apply brakes in the vehicle running the red light, as well as the vehicles which were waiting at the light from moving forward.

Trains are very safe for many reasons, but one of which is strict control of the flow of traffic. There is no telling how many fatalities and serious injuries could be prevented by stricter and smarter control of traffic.

The computer in the car can receive message from roadside signals. To save money, cities could limit this system to dangerous intersections. When a car enters/leaves one of these special control zones, we could send a special signal to it to turn the system off.

We might also let drivers volunteer to sending anonymous road usage data to a traffic management organizations within government, to improve roadways.

It could also function like a flight data recorder in case of an accident, providing detailed information about just exactly what went wrong in the moments leading up to an accident, so that we can prevent future crashes.

If you think about it, this computer probably wouldn't cost much to put in a car, and certainly would be worth the investment.

Because there would be fewer accidents and traffic infractions, traffic would flow better, allowing people to get to places faster, while saving lives.

What does DU think of this? Certainly, the more informational stuff is not big brother-ish, though admittedly anything involving control of a car would present the concerns. As well as the monitoring program, though I suppose that would be opt-in.

[Seldona]

1. How about a camera with audio for the house as well?

Hey, it would stop all that spousal abuse, drug use, and so many other laws from being broken.

If I need a sarcasm tag for this, I give up. Freedom is messy, but worth it.

[originalpckelly]

As we all know, not letting drivers run red lights and kill people...

is the same as spying on someone while at home 24/7.

[Seldona]

35. So you are for 24/7 monitoring of your car,

but not your home? Check.

I was simply applying the logic of the op towards the slippery slope theory. One is just as absurd as the other.

[wroberts189]

4. They already have cell phones for that mate. nt

[Seldona]

32. If you have one.

[wroberts189]

2. What we really need is advanced computer controlled flying cars

We would be relaxing in them now enjoying the view.

But pubs cut the r&d budget for this type of science years ago.

Just like they did solar.

[zagging]

3. Coming to a skyway near you...

http://www.moller.com/

It'll happen. Maybe not in our lifetimes, but...

[wroberts189]

10. It sure would be cool.....

Bet it would create a lot of jobs as well..

And NAV is here already. Most jets are all autopilot now.


Just need to figure out a few more quantum magnetic issues...

Imagine the new industry and styles ... wow


Sorry... sometimes I think I live in the parallel world where Gore won.

[originalpckelly]

12. Look below.

It's not going to happen, even with a magnetically lifted vehicle because of turbulence.

There's already an issue with overcrowding in the skies.

[wroberts189]

18. Not with a few more advances with proximity radar...

You see its dying to happen ... the stuff of sci fi movies. Everyone would want one.

Perhaps only the cops and EMT's will get them at first.


And there would be variants.. like flying bikes and even jet powered skates.

Ok I know I am pushing it. :)

[originalpckelly]

6. Actually, there are flying cars, but it's not a good model.

Flying vehicles need far more space between them, even with autopilot, than a road or even a rail system. This is because the medium in which the vehicle traveling fluctuates in the case of air travel (in other words the wind blows/updrafts/downdrafts) that being to close would be a serious problem in those circumstances. That will always be true so long as we have an atmosphere.

Plus, you have a lot more energy in any flying vehicle than a car, meaning more impact energy, meaning either more substantial structure is needed to survive a crash or there is far more risk of death in a crash.

[wroberts189]

13. ..but the computers are getter better and with backup systems

The calculations will be less then compu-auto driving on land ... now you have 3 dimensions.


Let me have my dream will ya :)

[DoctorMyEyes]

5. uh, no...

You may think it's safe and not "big brother-ish" but I would not agree. I'm guessing you've read 1984. Have you ever read The Handmaids Tale?

[originalpckelly]

8. Did you read my post?

I'm talking about more than one thing. Do you have a problem with a car telling you the speed limit and letting you know that you're over it? Do you have a problem with a car telling you there's an emergency vehicle in the area?

[DoctorMyEyes]

17. I read your post.

I have a device to tell me when I'm driving over the posted speed limit. It's called a speedometer. It's right there on the dashboard. I also have a series of devices to help me ascertain where emergency vehicles are coming from. I call them windows and mirrors.

As far as your plan to not let a car run a red light... I guess you've never found yourself in the position of a sitting duck in a bad neighborhood in the middle of the night? Cause that's what you are when you sit at a red light in an empty intersection in some neighborhoods. Thanks, but I like to be able to hit the gas before the thugs hit me - regardless of the color of the traffic light. And what about when the traffic lights malfunction? Cause I know that only happens in my neighborhood about 2 or three times a month. We just fucking sit there till someone from the city comes out to fix the lights!?!?

Oh, and I think it's an absolutely horrible idea to have a device in your car that will allow someone else to shut it's power off. I guess you think it's okay cause it would only be used by law enforcement. I assure you it wouldn't be long before a series of enterprising assholes found a way to do it too. And on top of that - maybe someday I'll need the ability to outpace the "law enforcement authority du jour" and I sure as hell don't want my own car selling me out.

[originalpckelly]

21. Well, you can be safe in knowing that cities don't care about ghettos...

and probably wouldn't put these systems in those areas.

I think we need to prevent car chases, maybe I'm wrong. Why do you hate America? I think you're a car terrorist.

[DoctorMyEyes]

27. LOL!

You're very perceptive! If I could change my username I would change it to CarTerrorist! And you didn't answer, so if you haven't read it I really do recommend The Handmaid's Tale. I've not felt the same about ATMs since.

[originalpckelly]

28. Cool, I'll check it out.

[wuvuj]

7. There are people and groups...

...working towards this...rest assured. Newer cars already have a "flight data recorder"...you have RFID tags in your tires. Onstar tracks your vehicle. Your cellphone tracks you. The NSA tracks your email and Homeland Security tracks bank accounts and a whole lot else.

Women are the best consumers of fascism...they should all have their own govt paid bodyguard?

[originalpckelly]

11. What about the stuff that just informs you?

In other words, are you against being told that an emergency vehicle is (insert direction) and which way is recommended to pull over? Are you against seeing the speed limit on your dashboard?

[rrneck]

29. More information is good,

relinquishing control of the vehicle is bad.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[pop goes the weasel]

9. traffic infractions are nothing

I want a device that will automatically change the music on the sound system to Barry Manilow as soon as the bass volume is cranked to loud enough to be heard outside the car.

[blues90]

14. I rather see light rail and small electric cars for those

who need to get to the station and board the train. Just get ride of the car as we know it because no matter what else you do people will still spend most of their day sitting in traffic jambs. And computer equipment fails all the time.

[originalpckelly]

19. I agree, but it's not feasable. I live next to light rail...

it's a park-n-ride. The problem is that when you park your car, you can't get very far without taking a bus on the other side. People hate buses, and simply do not take them when they don't have to.

[Bucky]

15. Small electric shocks onto the buttocks that increase as you go over the speed limit

Loud electronic siren blare that goes off in proximity to police cars as soon as your inspection sticker expires.

[originalpckelly]

22. That's a very clever idea! I'm shocked that I didn't think of it first.

I really like the way you think. We could team up on this.

[Bucky]

34. Fershizzle. Soon as our new robot overlords take over, I'm totally switching sides.

[wuushew]

16. The human machine sucks big time, I welcome robot cars

People are terrible drivers and only get more so as they age.

Do what you want on private property but the precision and timing of machines for driving is probably much better than that of man right now. Also people overestimate the cleverness of their shortcuts. At some point human intuition will be markedly inferior to route planning and traffic modeling of evermore sophisticated computers.


They had automated cars in Demolition Man that still allowed for manual operation.

[wroberts189]

23. How about a full biometric scan, blood test and criminal background check?

laser speed check and K9 unit search.

At every intersection.



The problem is the whole god damn transportation system. 40% of us cannot follow traffic laws. No way to fix.

Thank Detroit Automakers

[flvegan]

24. Will this system be Windows based?

[Fumesucker]

36. The Navy built a ship that had the entire control system based on Windoze..

It sat dead in the water for many hours and hadto be towed into port for repairs when the system crashed and the engines would not run.

http://gcn.com/Articles/1998/07/13/Software-glitches-leave-Navy-Smart-Ship-dead-in-the-water.aspx

[Tesha]

39. Doubtless you're joking, but no, the computers that operate automobile vehicle controls don't run...

Windows. They run *REAL* operating systems such as VxWorks.

o http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VxWorks

Car-Nav systems, though, may be running DOS or Windows.

Tesha

[MadHound]

25. Umm, no

Creepy Big Brother stuff aside, there are indeed times when I've found the need for speed to be imperative, a life or death matter.

Then there is the simple fact that, given the nature of police these days, I can see there being a potential need for wanting to outrun the cops.

And again, there is the Big Brother creep factor. Sorry, but if this occurs, I'll make sure to keep at least one vehicle without those sorts of modifications.

[Greyhound]

26. We could eliminate all traffic accidents and jams with computer controlled

vehicles but people won't go for than either.

[rrneck]

30. Several good ideas here

but changing our urban environment so we use our feet more and cars less might be better in the long run.

[RC]

31. Another needed item is a loud alarm

for people driving 10 MPH or more under the limit and there is 2500 feet of empty road and green lights in from of them.

How long before any devices the cops might use to stop high speed chases would be in the hands of bad people in not so good neighborhoods?

[originalpckelly]

33. Yeah, I have to agree.

I think even just the other non-big brother stuff is good. I think obviously, if it were done, it'd be digital with an enormously long key that people in bad neighborhoods probably wouldn't have enough money to break. Something insanely long like a 512-bit encryption.

[bluethruandthru]

37. I'm surprised that there isn't a device that

automatically issues you a ticket if you go over the speed limit in a certain area! (which I think is nuts!) The proliferation of speed cameras where I live is ridiculous. They aren't put in areas where they would be useful - near schools. Instead they're put in areas to act as speed traps.

Most of the traffic conjestion in my area is caused by people using cell phones, texting, eating, reading or doing anything other than driving. People need to pay attention to what they're doing when they're driving. They need to keep up with traffic. I find drivers every day going 15 to 20 miles an hour under the speed limit blocking traffic behind them. Often, Speed isn't the issue..it's the lack of it.

[Tesha]

40. "John Spartan, you are fined one credit for a violation of the verbal morality statute."

We'll also have three seashells.

Tesha

[deaniac21]

38. stupid