Autoblog

UK to use gas station cameras to automatically stop fueling of uninsured cars? [w/poll]

Jeff Sabatini — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 19:32:00 EST

The British sure love their surveillance cameras, don't they? As if living in the police state that is modern Great Britain isn't bad enough for motorists, what with all the speed cameras and the like, there's a new plan afoot: Keep the uninsured from pumping gas.

According to The Mirror, a new government proposal would have surveillance cameras at gas stations determine whether a vehicle carries valid insurance and registration before turning on the pumps. Automatic license plate recognition is already in place at thousands of British fueling stations, acting as a deterrent to driving off without paying. The new measure would be as simple as allowing the systems to cross-reference databases of the national Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, according to the report.

One in 25 drivers in the UK are uninsured, according to The Mirror - some 1.4 million motorists. While the report calls this rate "one of the worst records in western Europe," it's far better than here in the United States.

According to data from 2009, published by USA Today, nearly 14 percent of U.S. drivers, or one in seven, has no insurance. In that report, the south stood atop the list of U.S. states with the highest rates of uninsured drivers, with Mississippi, New Mexico, Tennessee, Florida, Oklahama and Alabama all topping 20 percent.

What do you think about this initiative? Is it it a good idea or a bad one? Would you welcome similar legislation here in the States? Take part in our survey below and feel free to leave your thoughts in Comments.

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UK to use gas station cameras to automatically stop fueling of uninsured cars? [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM launching OnStar-based Family Link that tracks teen drivers

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology, GM

Your children use the Internet for social media, Wikipediaing (yep, we just made that up) their homework and drowning in the misery that is a teenager's life. You, on the other hand, use the Internet for work... and social media and Wikipediaing your kid's homework. Now, OnStar has another way for you to use the web, and it involves your family as well.

The program is called Family Link, and it allows for owners of OnStar-equipped vehicles to keep track of their rides when they're out of sight. Say your son or daughter borrowed the Acadia, you can log in to your Family Link account and see exactly where little Billy or Sally have taken your GMC. Family Link also allows you to receive text or email alerts throughout the day, at predetermined intervals, which update you on the status of your automobile.

General Motors plans to roll out the service to 10,000 customers via an invite-only trial. Consumer response will help dictate the plan's rollout timeline, pricing and additional services that could be added. In fact, OnStar is already thinking ahead - possible add-on extras include speed warnings, boundary alerts and estimated arrival times.

So, is this sort of technology welcome in America's households, or is it too "Big Brother" for you? Have your say in Comments.

Continue reading GM launching OnStar-based Family Link that tracks teen drivers

GM launching OnStar-based Family Link that tracks teen drivers originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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They're Watching: Google StreetView catches Porsches testing in Colorado

Noah Joseph — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Technology, Porsche

There's no hiding these days from Big Brother. The nutcases in the tin-foil hats would tell you there never was, but now even automakers have to watch out. Development teams out testing prototypes on public roads used to have to watch out for professional spy photographers, but with the advent camera phones and now Google Street View, there's no hiding anywhere. That's what the boys at Garage419 discovered when they found shots of several Porsche prototypes on service while searching for a good driving road in Colorado.

Hard to tell much from the shots of the Boxsters, Caymans and 911s, except to say that the automakers' dev teams and the paparazzi alike have a new kid on the block to watch out for.

[Source: Garage419]

They're Watching: Google StreetView catches Porsches testing in Colorado originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM's OnStar will track your annual mileage... but only for your benefit

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:32:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology, GM

We've heard it before: "We're going to collect the information, but it won't go beyond..." The latest take on "Let us help you with technology" comes courtesy of GM's OnStar, which is offering you the opportunity to have your annual mileage tracked. The info will be given to their GMAC arm, which will then see if you qualify for insurance discounts. That sounds good, right?

Of course, no one mentions the other side -- that they can also see if you need a higher premium. "You told us this car was just for weekend recreation, Mr. Smith..." Signing up for the OnStar service is voluntary, so it's not going to start watching you until you say so... yet. But if you really do think you're paying too much, then why not. They probably already know everything about you, anyway... Thanks for the tip, Myles!

[Source: Top Speed]

GM's OnStar will track your annual mileage... but only for your benefit originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Speeding be gone! System monitors signs, alerts driver

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Government/Legal

Big Brother is slowly moving behind the wheel of our cars and we appear to be only a few short steps away from losing control of our driving all together. There are groups of respected motorists who have advocated abolishing speed limits all together, insisting that traffic speeds are self-regulating and better controlled by nature and natural selection. But there are definitely times when we would gladly give up a tiny bit of control if it meant keeping traffic congestion from getting out of hand. Automated cars have been tested and with manual overrides can actually be pretty effective in certain situations. Buick's automated highway experiment a decade ago and the countless adaptive cruise control systems on the market today show how useful electronics can be for traffic flow and safety. And now we have a system developed by Siemens VDO that could potentially keep any car cruising along at the posted speed limit so drivers can concentrate on their cell phones well driving, like they should be. (Sarcasm, of course)

Siemens VDO has developed a Traffic Sign Recognition system that will alert drivers if they're driving too fast. A camera will monitor the road ahead for speed limits on traffic signs. As the camera recognizes posted speeds, the information is processed and the driver warned if they are speeding. Not much of a leap to envision this system automatically slowing you down if you don't do it yourself, or even never allowing the vehicle to exceed that posted limit.

If that sounds a bit scary, it probably should. And Siemens VDO predicts it might be here before you know it. Production of this speed monitor system could start in less than two years. A similar system for educational institutions has been under development for some time now, but Siemens sees the automotive industry as a larger force towards getting the system to market. We have as much respect for the law as the next ~~Bullrunner~~ driver, but there are clearly times when speeding can be necessary, such as accident avoidance or to outrun a dangerous situation. So hopefully the system can be configured to allow some variance or be overridden completely when necessary.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Speeding be gone! System monitors signs, alerts driver originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Oct 2006 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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