George Orwell: "Holyyy Sh*****"

Overheal · 22-04-2010 07:58PM #1

http://gizmodo.com/5521918/speeding-tickets-now-coming-from-outer-space

As though cameras on top of every traffic light weren't bad enough already: there's now a trial run of satellites that will catch you speeding, over a several-block range, from hundreds of miles up. Hope for clouds, I guess? The SpeedSpike system is being tested at two locations in London, and works a little differently than your typical trap: cameras on the ground are assisted by satellites that are capable of calculating your average speed between two points. Which to me just means a lot of speeding, then going very, very slowly, then speeding, and so on:

The company said in its evidence that the cameras enabled "number plate capture in all weather conditions, 24 hours a day". It also referred to the system's "low cost" and ease of installation.
The system could be used for "main road enforcement for congestion reduction and speed enforcement", and could help to "eliminate rat-runs" and cut speeds outside schools, it added. It could also reduce the need for speed humps.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/7608153/New-speed-cameras-trap-motorists-from-space.html

The cameras, which combine number plate reading technology with a global positioning satellite receiver, are similar to those used in roadworks.
The AA said it believed the new system could cover a network of streets as opposed to a straight line, and was “probably geared up to zones in residential areas.”

The Home Office is testing the cameras at two sites, one in Southwark, London, and the other A374 between Antony and Torpoint in Cornwall.
The `SpeedSpike’ system, which calculates average speed between any two points in the network, has been developed by PIPS Technology Ltd, an American-owned company with a base in Hampshire.
Details of the trials are contained in a House of Commons report. The company said in its evidence that the cameras enabled "number plate capture in all weather conditions, 24 hours a day". It also referred to the system's "low cost" and ease of installation.
The system could be used for "main road enforcement for congestion reduction and speed enforcement", and could help to "eliminate rat-runs" and cut speeds outside schools, it added. It could also reduce the need for speed humps.
The development of speed cameras has raised concerns about expanding state surveillance.
The Home Office said it was unable to comment on the trials because of "commercial confidentiality".
The AA said it would watch the system “carefully” but it did not believe there was anything sinister. “It is a natural evolution of the technology that is out there,” a spokesman said.

Be very afraid, or buy a dash-mount Solar Flare detector to let you know when its safe to speed. or you know, obey the rules of the road...

Thomas828 · 22-04-2010 08:05PM

Why should I want to speed? Everybody knows that speed kills. And I'm not just talking about amphetamine sulphide

InTheTrees · 22-04-2010 08:19PM

One of the reasons I will never live in England again.

I mean honestly the place is so clogged fulll of people and cars there isnt much opportunity to "speed" anymore so why bother?

CreepingDeath · 22-04-2010 08:25PM

I don't know what the satellite element of the system is for, they aren't going to read number plates from orbit. Certainly not moving ones.

If you've ever driven up North to Banbridge (the shopping outlet), you'd pass a speed trap where they read your reg number at the start of the road and read it at the end of the road, calculate your average speed and do you for speeding that way.

Sounds like this is something similar... not checking your speed at a single location but over a distance.

The satellite element is probably to track congestion.
Take a snapshot of an area at a specific time and count the cars going through various routes.

This is the freedom days of driving, enjoy them while you can.
There will come a day when every car has a transponder tracking your position and speed constantly.

InTheTrees · 22-04-2010 08:28PM

CreepingDeath wrote: »

If you've ever driven up North to Banbridge (the shopping outlet), you'd pass a speed trap where they read your reg number at the start of the road and read it at the end of the road, calculate your average speed and do you for speeding that way.

I hadnt heard about that.

CreepingDeath · 22-04-2010 08:37PM

InTheTrees wrote: »

I hadnt heard about that.

Well, the way my sat nav brings me it does.
But there's HUGE signs and camera gantrys, you can't miss it.
Don't worry you wouldn't pass it without noticing it.

Cookie_Monster · 22-04-2010 08:43PM

its fine, just put tinfoil on your sunroof

concussion · 22-04-2010 09:07PM

They're not spying on you from space, the ground units have GPS receivers to ensure they have precise timings in oreder to calculate your average speed over the distance travelled. The number plate capture system is ANPRS which is a commonly used system.

bonzodog2 · 22-04-2010 09:09PM

I beleive there are places on the continent (can't remember where,but maybe Italy, and its probably 20+ years ago) you got a ticket when you joined a motorway, and put it into a machine when you left; their system would calculate your toll. I expect these days, or soon, such systems will also work out your speed and issue tickets.

CreepingDeath · 22-04-2010 09:29PM

bonzodog2 wrote: »

I beleive there are places on the continent (can't remember where,but maybe Italy, and its probably 20+ years ago) you got a ticket when you joined a motorway, and put it into a machine when you left; their system would calculate your toll. I expect these days, or soon, such systems will also work out your speed and issue tickets.

Apparently there's tolled roads in America that issue speeding tickets between tolling booths. I was reading up on it before spending a bit of time there a few years back.

epgc3fyqirnbsx · 22-04-2010 09:33PM

CreepingDeath wrote: »

Apparently there's tolled roads in America that issue speeding tickets between tolling booths. I was reading up on it before spending a bit of time there a few years back.

yep, they have the same in Australia, was caught outside Perth. They're still waiting for that money

D-Generate · 22-04-2010 09:38PM

I could swear this is a Run_to_da_Hills type post....

George Orwell: "Holyyy Sh*****"

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