[Next][Index][Thread]

The great speed and safety myth



Here in Britain, police peddle the story that virtually any road
accident is due to speeding, and that if we all obeyed the arbitrary
posted speed limits we'd be safe. "Speed Kills" says the slogan.
In a technical sense they're right; if no-one drove anywhere (i.e.
speed = 0) then there'd be no accidents.

My belief is that almost all accidents are caused by bad driving - failing
to pay attention, being too close to the car in front, using a car
phone with one hand and taking notes with the other, etc.

A recent study made by a university daan saaf showed a 40% reduction in
the "unexplained accident" rate on a stretch of motorway when they set up
a rest area in a layby and encouraged people to stop for a free tea /
coffee; they believe that many such accidents are caused by drivers
falling asleep at the wheel.

The police are having a massive campaign against speed - Gatso cameras are
the latest craze, but most go on main trunk roads in the countryside and
not on suburban streets. Speed is an easy target; you can't measure
incompetence, and politicians love these schemes because they're so cheap
to run - a Gatso on a busy London urban motorway or bypass road will pay
for itself within days.

So, in the next century will we all be driving mega torque electric sports
vehicles with speed limiters controlled by roadside transmitters, that
take you from rest to the speed limit with spine crushing acceleration
then force you to potter along, being overtaken by Mad Max on a bicycle?

Dave
-- 
David Crooke, Department of Computer Science, University of Edinburgh
Janet dcc@ed.dcs  :  Internet dcc@dcs.ed.ac.uk  :  IP talk dcc@129.215.160.29
JCMB Rm 1408, King's Bldgs, W. Mains Rd., Edinburgh EH9 3JZ. +44 131 650 5164
E.U. Motor Sport Club now on WWW - http://www.dcs.ed.ac.uk/misc/local/EUMSC/