Filed under: Safety
Speeding awards temporary celebrity to your license plate
Apparently, when some motorists see their speed displayed on a radar-assisted light sign, they don't pay much attention (hell, we've seen people speed up to see how high it goes).
The solution, it seems, may be in the form of Atkins' new speed sign that not only shows the speed of the vehicle and tells the driver to slow down, but also the displays the vehicle's license plate number.
The new technology is currently undergoing testing in the U.K. and, during a test run on the M42, elicited the desired response: brake lights.
[Source: AutoExpress]
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Howard Kerr 8:17PM (9/01/2006)
99 times out of 100 when I see a sign that says "your speed is ----" it is when I am on a busy road. There is no way to tell if your's is the car going X miles per hour and your speedometer is lying, if it's the car behind...in front or beside you that is doing X miles per hour, or if the sign is GROSSLY optimistic. These signs carry about as much meaning to me as that stranger who says, " have a nice day " will impact my life.
Reply
naggs 9:03PM (9/01/2006)
this is why you get a vanity plate.
*85 mph*
a55m4n
Reply
epp_b 9:56PM (9/01/2006)
["this is why you get a vanity plate."]
Or something that's difficult to electronically read, like: MNM 8B8
Or hair spray.
Reply
Chris 10:00PM (9/01/2006)
They have one of the traditional installations of the "Your Speed Is" sign near my house, on a downhill section. The damn thing starts blinking you speed if you're just 1 MPH over the limit. The tightest tolerence I'd ever seen before was flashing at 10+ MPH over the legal limit.
Reply
SN 10:10PM (9/01/2006)
"elicited the desired response: brake lights" ...and soon crashes from rear-ending those that slam on their breaks.
Speed cameras and other speed related things like this actually make the roads less safe in the U.K. Would I care if my number plate is displayed in addition to my speed? No. My car has a speedometer already installed thank you.
Reply
pooch 11:03PM (9/01/2006)
Ok, it's now official, the UK SUCKS!!!!
All they do nowadays is use big brother to ticket drivers mainly for the revenue it produces and not safety. They are just relentless, non-stop, a lot like the Terminator. Come on already!
Ummm, maybe they should spend more time, money and effort going after the real bad guys.
Reply
aaron hocker 11:19PM (9/01/2006)
f--- the law earn your money and try to catch me
Reply
Corey W. 11:35PM (9/01/2006)
I've seen tinted license plate covers that suppose to stop camera or scanning devices.
Reply
7of7 12:05AM (9/02/2006)
People who speed should be subjected to much harsher penalties. Not only are they annoying, they are arrogantly ignoring the law. This sign will only be a high score board for the doucheclowns who speed. It should EMP their car if they're caught going 10 or more over. The worst thing about speeders is they feel entitled to speed and actually feel insulted by the law. It's like a thief who complains about anti-theft systems.
Reply
nick 1:03AM (9/02/2006)
I got pulled over for speeding today on the way home from work... First time in ten years... Now I'm noticiing all kinds of mentioning about speeding and being caught (not just on autoblog). Why didn't you all warn me earlier!!!
Reply
naggs 1:36AM (9/02/2006)
"9. People who speed should be subjected to much harsher penalties. Not only are they annoying, they are arrogantly ignoring the law. This sign will only be a high score board for the doucheclowns who speed. It should EMP their car if they're caught going 10 or more over. The worst thing about speeders is they feel entitled to speed and actually feel insulted by the law. It's like a thief who complains about anti-theft systems."
if i knew who you were i would use the street infront of your house as a drag strip and laff because i know you cant do anything about it
Reply
George 1:53AM (9/02/2006)
From a financial standpoint, these digital autocam robotoy speed traps are a huge $$$ windfall. Here is how it works. Pay whatever ticket is assessed against you and you DONT get any points torwards your drivers license. DONT pay it and fine, you dont have to pay but you WILL get points torwards your drivers license. Either way, you loose, either way, the Govt Entity gains.
These robotoy speed traps would make sense and actualy serve a good purpose if placed in sensible areas, near schools, hospitals, churches, playgrounds, parks, and tourist locals. You know, places where you realy do need over the top traffic control.
They dont belong on highways, expressways, turnpikes, and speedways. But when do elected officials ever make sense?
Hell, try passing a law preventing politicians from owning a company being paid on contract to install the robotoy speed traps. Ha, good luck!
Reply
Lil Stinker 2:06AM (9/02/2006)
Lets face it! If it is'nt against the law it will be!
We have more laws on the books now than ever before.
You and I know that if the government wants to break the law they can do it. But if I go 5 miles over the speed limit I am public enemy number #1. yet you can go to yahoo, search type in Judges trained to resist the constitution. and no government agent wants to talk about that. WHY?
Reason's
1. Absolute power corupts absolutly.
2. Bias
3. constitutional treason.
4. you have no rights unless you are the government!
6. If you dont believe me just look for yourself.
http://www.remnantofgod.org/bn040417htm
Reply
Lil Stinker 2:09AM (9/02/2006)
I posted my comment and it never posted and you want me to trust electronic's. Electronic's is not a exact science. other wise my computer would work flawlis!
Reply
Lil Stinker 2:10AM (9/02/2006)
I posted my comment and it never posted and you want me to trust electronic's. Electronic's is not a exact science. other wise my computer would work flawlis!
Reply
Poopy Head 2:54AM (9/02/2006)
Hey 7of7,
Why don't you just stay right and not whine like a bitch. If the DOT set realistic speed limits, then there would be less "speeders". Get a grip and do some research. There are countless studies on this. Montana had somw of the safest roads ever when they had no speed limits. The limits are set by politics for the purpose of pulling in more cash. People are insulted by these laws because they are unrealistic.
Reply
Scott 3:28AM (9/02/2006)
I thought I was the only one who sped up to see how high I could get those numbers!
Reply
Mark 4:27AM (9/02/2006)
If I dont see a cop...I wont slow down.
I still do not think driving fast is as dangerous as teenagers on cellphones listening to loud Mp3's in stop and go traffic.
I think better driving tests/lessons would make the roads safer than any other thing.
Reply
GhostDoggy 4:56AM (9/02/2006)
This is 100% as!n!ne. If they can tell the plate then simply impound the vehicle and arrest the driver. Done. This chicken crap approach will get nowhere fast, because some people like fame and will just speed up to get 'noticed'.
Reply
GhostDoggy 4:58AM (9/02/2006)
Put your real license plate in the rear window (still being advertised) and a vanity plate that says, "f-you!' and see how that works out around town.
Reply