TomTom apologizes for helping police catch speeders

[Shnig]

You didn't see the quotation marks around the word safe it seems. I was quite clearly implying that speeding is never safe. Think you kind of missed the point of my argument.

 

[B00kWyrm]

higher speeds don't cause higher accident rates

Perhaps not... but...
Speed differential DOES... and the faster people travel, at some point the greater the "differential" ...
Be it from entering/exiting traffic,
or vehicles or drivers incapable of higher speeds,
or pedestrian/bicycle traffic!

ALSO... greater speeds result in greater injuries and fatalities.

Both of these (differential danger, and injury) are factors behind speed laws.

Catching speeders... a good thing. Yes.
"Anonymized data"... a good thing, Yes.

And around here... they normally DO give notice about upcoming placements of speed cameras... usually near schools.
I favor the placements. (and yes I have been stung!) I favor red-light cameras too.
My wife ... has a different opinion.

 

[Zecias]

Guest said:
Uh no, it's not a good thing, since speed limits are artificially low and were introduced when cars' handling and braking was far inferior to a typical modern car. If we reduced the speed limit on all roads to 5 mph and people stuck to it then there would be far less road fatalities, but it would rightly be seen as ridiculous, but the current situation where speed limits are set two or three times lower than a competent driver in a modern car is capable of traveling at without incident isn't much less stupid.

yes, because competent drivers can drive safely at 240 mph on freeways. its also easy to stop within short distances when you are driving at 60 mph in suburban areas.(sarcasm)

 

[gwailo247]

shnig said:
You didn't see the quotation marks around the word safe it seems. I was quite clearly implying that speeding is never safe. Think you kind of missed the point of my argument.

You said that setting speed limits with safety in mind is a lie. I disagreed and outlined my reasons. Was there another point I missed?

 

[Archean]

Guest # 20 .....
They have proven higher speeds don't cause higher accident rates

Having to stop suddenly is what kills people; although usually people tend to use other means (including brakes) to stop e.g. poles, walls, other cars etc.

Now consider this, in Germany there are large swaths of Autobahns which have no speed limits, and yet very good safety record, for a reason i.e. Europeans build cars, and american companys build 'tanks' which are much harder to stop and much easier to crash, they can't go round the corner (they go 'around' it); unimaginably fuel in-efficient; and lastly poorly built.

Just in case, these 'tanks' have some advantages too, e.g. if you want to get even with someone, simply runover their house with your tank (I am not advising anyone to do this by the way, it is just a fact)

 

[Guest]

Tom Tom Ceo is a retard.. and must be fired asap !!

 

[Guest]

I agree. You have nothing to fear if you stay below the speed limit.

 

[Guest]

Info: Big Brother doesn't need to watch speed limiters have been in effect(in the U.S. at least) for years.
e.x. my hyundai accent is factory limited to 109mph like many vehicles also had chevy lumina previously owned by an old man limited(non-factory) to 55mph(awesome thing to find out on the highway where the speed limit is 75).

 

[Guest]

The speed limits are much higher in parts of Europe than in the U.S. Speed only kills in countries that need cash from speeding tickets for revenue.

 

[Rasta211]

This clearly has advantages and disadvantages. All I know is Tom Tom ain't going to help pay my fine if I get a ticket from a speeding trap that was created based off my data.
Tom Tom gets paid, government gets paid, I don't? WTF.

Opting out of all my data tracking then.

 

[Guest]

on April 30, 2011
5:47 PM gwailo247 said:

Why would you not target the area where most people are likely to be speeding? Kinda dumb to set up a camera that may catch a speeder once every two weeks, rather than one that catches 10 people daily.

I'm all against speed traps, but everyone is acting like speed limits are just set deliberately to inconvenience people. In most cases its done with safety in mind, not as a way to line coffers. Its not a toll booth, nobody is forcing you to speed.



If you really wanted to stop speeding for the safety of the public, you'd make the opportunity cost of engaging in speeding too high for people to tolerate. The fine would become a Notice of Apparent Liability in the amount of, say, $25,000.00 and maybe even use the tactics of the DEA and confiscate the personal property being used in the commission of the crime, the automobile that was being driven in excess of the posted speed limit. I believe these penalties would raise the opportunity costs to a level that would generally stop most people from engaging in speeding. Then the police we already have employed could work on deterring other crimes. That said, I also believe that the community contact targets, "quotas", are really for the generation of revenue for the municipality and always have been about raising revenue, not public safety.

 

[gwailo247]

on April 30, 2011
If you really wanted to stop speeding for the safety of the public, you'd make the opportunity cost of engaging in speeding too high for people to tolerate. The fine would become a Notice of Apparent Liability in the amount of, say, $25,000.00 and maybe even use the tactics of the DEA and confiscate the personal property being used in the commission of the crime, the automobile that was being driven in excess of the posted speed limit. I believe these penalties would raise the opportunity costs to a level that would generally stop most people from engaging in speeding. Then the police we already have employed could work on deterring other crimes. That said, I also believe that the community contact targets, "quotas", are really for the generation of revenue for the municipality and always have been about raising revenue, not public safety.

Again, nobody is forcing anybody to break the speed limit and speed. Speed traps and bombs under buses aside, people get speeding tickets in situations where the speed limit is posted, they probably drive that route daily, and they knowingly and deliberately exceed the speed limit and get a ticket.

How complicated is it to avoid getting a ticket just by driving the posted speed limit?

We keep acting like this is some kind of violation of our Constitutional and God given right to speed in our cars.

 

[krayzie]

*deletes tomtom app* lost my business....

 

[MilwaukeeMike]

Before you complain about Big Brother, remember that the technology exists to hook up a radar gun to a camera, mount it on a bridge and photograph anyone going more than 5 over, run your plates and mail you a ticket. It?s how those iPass RFID toll stations work (minus the radar gun of course)

Using GPS data to determine WHERE (not WHO) people speed is no big deal whatsoever. Ever run over those pairs of sensor strips on the freeway, or drive by one of those displays that shows your speed and speed limit? They use those tools to find out where people are speeding. This is the same thing.

 

[Guest]

The universe a FAR more intricate and complex than human law. This is why good judges are indispensable. It's problematic when we try to reduce law to mathematics - automate it that is. It is wrong to use technology in this way, it does not respect the human condition.

 

[gwailo247]

Guest said:
The universe a FAR more intricate and complex than human law. This is why good judges are indispensable. It's problematic when we try to reduce law to mathematics - automate it that is. It is wrong to use technology in this way, it does not respect the human condition.

We're not talking about who did what in a domestic disturbance case where there are many more factors to consider. This is about speeding. In these cases of very simple math an impartial machine is far better than a cop whose personal views and prejudices may have him stop one person while letting another person go. I disagree, speeding is pretty cut and dry, even when compared to other traffic violations such as unsafe lane change, or following too closely.

Its not as if every person speeding is racing their pregnant wife to the hospital, or driving their shot friend to a doctor. If you're really racing to stop a bomb from exploding and you get a camera ticket for doing so, after you get the key to the city from the mayor, I'm sure they'll take care of your violation.

 

[cliffordcooley]

My only problem with this is the fact that not everyone has TomTom and only those who do are targeted. I personally don't have TomTom but find it unfair to those who do. If they are going to implement something make sure everyone will be monitored.