Be careful everyone; Big Brother may soon be watching. Over the past week or so, we have brought forth a couple of articles based solely upon speeding. One of those articles highlighted the use of speed cameras and the population’s attempt to rid themselves of those electrical snitches. This particular situation, we have to say, is worse. Turns out, PIPS Technology Ltd, an American-owned company with a base in Hampshire, has decided that it could use technology to its advantage and create the SpeedSpike system. This system can calculate how fast someone is traveling in their vehicle from space. Yes, space. Apparently, this system combines number plate reading technology with a global positioning satellite receiver. What this combination means is the satellite can read your license plate at one point and then read it again at a point further down the road. This system of reading a driver’s license plate at two different locations allows for a calculation of speed. It is currently being tested by the Home Office in Southwark, London and the A374 between Antony and Torpoint in Cornwall.
Hitting the jump for the full story is recommended. Things get a little heated.
Paul Watters, AA head of public affairs, comments, "We have some concerns about how far these systems extend along roads with many different speed limits impacting on a driver’s journey, how well drivers understand them and how well the zones are signed," he said.
"Camera enforcement is now high profile with conspicuous cameras and signing - we hope that continues.
"With new complex technology comes the risk of errors and so the government must issue clear guidance on how these systems should be used."
PIPS Technology Ltd stated that these cameras can capture images in all weather conditions 24 hours per day and that they were low-cost and easy to install. That’s just great, but we have to go back to the Big Brother scenario.
We do not want people to think we are pro-speeding, but capturing images from space? The line has to be drawn somewhere and if this is okay, tomorrow the line will be redrawn and eventually we will have big screen televisions in our living rooms “capturing” everything we do (read the book 1984 if you are confused by this scenario).
An AA spokesman said about the satellite system, “It is a natural evolution of the technology that is out there.” Oh yeah, where else is this technology going to lead us? Let’s put police officers back in their cruisers and let them do their jobs. Why rid our citizens of jobs that they can do well to leave it to cameras to do?
Posted on
11.17.2010 @ 23:40