Speeding may no longer be an option....

[xceebeex]

This has to be one of the gayest ideas ever, for many reasons:

New spyware could prevent drivers from speeding
CTV.ca News Staff

Many motorists would balk at the idea of an electronic back-seat driver that forcefully prevents them from speeding.

But a new device being road-tested by Transport Canada could mean breaking the speed limit will no longer be an option.

Using global positioning satellite technology and a digital speed-limit map, the device makes it difficult for drivers to press down on the accelerator once they go above a certain speed limit.

The idea is sure to appeal to many road-safety experts, but the researcher in charge of the project admits some drivers will not welcome the idea of a machine that forces them to slow down.

"We are trying to assess the operational acceptance issues," Peter Burns, of Transport Canada's road safety directorate, told The Globe and Mail.

The pilot trial is believed to be the first of its kind in North America, but similar devices have already been tested in Sweden, the Netherlands and Britain.

Dr. Burns told The Globe that proponents of such devices are enthusiastic about the potential to reduce deaths and injuries from car crashes, as well as reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, which are greater at higher speeds.


"Excessive speed is a leading road safety challenge," he said, noting that speeding is a contributing factor in 25 per cent of fatal crashes across Canada.

Ten cars, driven by volunteers and outfitted with the Swedish-made speed-limiting system, have been testing the system on Ottawa's roads.

By spring, researchers hope to have collected enough data to see if the system actually changed the drivers' speeding habits before going ahead with a larger trial.

Using another 10 volunteer drivers, the project will also test the Otto Driving Companion, a less intrusive and commercially available system designed by Persentech, a Winnipeg firm.

The dashboard-mounted device also uses GPS technology, but only warns drivers with a voice alarm and a light if they start speeding.


The $290 devices are on sale in Winnipeg and Ottawa and will be available in Edmonton, Calgary and Red Deer starting this week.

Company president Frank Franczyk said he has sold 400 of the devices in Winnipeg alone and that customers appreciate the blue speed-warning light and even the voice that warns them they are going too fast.

Some even say their children speak up when they see the alarm go off.

"They say, 'Hey mom, the blue light's on. Why are you speeding?" Franczyk, who has plans to expand the service to Toronto, Hamilton, Vancouver and the United States, told The Globe.

In Europe, proponents have said that the technology should be mandatory in all vehicles and that insurance companies might offer discounts to drivers who use it.

[crazybrew609]

GHEY.. i will never buy a car that has that device in it... NEVER

[mikecentola]

lol i'm going to secretly install one in your car brew muhahahhah

[xceebeex]

Originally Posted by crazybrew609

GHEY.. i will never buy a car that has that device in it... NEVER

All the more reason to stick with a carbed car. :mrgreen:

[mikecentola]

i see no reason to drive a carbed car over a fuel injected one.

[xceebeex]

Originally Posted by screaminfast

i see no reason to drive a carbed car over a fuel injected one.

No fancy computer is needed and very few electronics in general so it would make it extremely difficult to integrate something like this. That was my main point.

[mikecentola]

:wtfweird:

[JClark]

Volvo tried to implement something similar a few years ago and was shot down hard.

[nysulli]

i'm all for something like this if its used only under certain situations, ie people who have gotten tons of tickets

just have the dmv force these things to be installed in repeat offenders cars much like they force people with a DWI to install a breathalizer to start their car

i only suggest this because it certainly beats the other option of having your license suspended/revoked due to 3+ tickets in 18 months

[SilverRT4]

Yeah that is super Bad bad Idea

[DC2Nick]

wow.... yea im gonna get an OBDI car after my
GS-R