Honda Stokes Pistonhead Paranoia for Profit– Uh, Motorists' Safety

April 21st, 2008 11:57 AM

honda stokes pistonhead paranoia for profit 8211 uh motorists safety

Despite the fact that Japan has some of the lowest rates of auto theft in the entire developed world, Honda is introducing an on-board navigation feature which will alert drivers when they park near reported crime hotspots. The system will automatically route information about criminal activity from police computers to participating navigation systems, providing news of recent thefts, damaged vehicles and break-ins. The system will also rate districts by risk levels, telling drivers which vehicular crimes have afflicted the immediate area. Honda has not announced whether the system will be offered outside of Japan. For now US motorists will only be able to monitor the police wirelessly. Priorities.

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David C. Holzman on Apr 21, 2008

Japan is also the country where they try to sterilize everything despite the fact that the human immune system is designed to function well in environments far dirtier than Japan, and the fact that we have ecosystems of harmless bacteria--that protect us--in our mouths, gut, etc.

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Sitting@home on Apr 21, 2008
Japan is also the country where they try to sterilize everything I thought that was California, where everyone seems to carry Lysol wipes around to clean shop door handles before opening them (despite the fact this is the exact reason why the flesh eating MRSA bacteria is now so prevalent in hospitals). A friend of a friend who worked at Nissan's UK factory once recounted a story (which may have been an Urban myth) where the Japanese execs were proud of their new model's anti-theft capabilities. They dared anyone to try to gain entry. Someone picked up a housebrick, threw in through the window, unlocked the door from the inside, then used the brick to smash the steering lock and hotwire the ignition. The execs were incredulous, they couldn't believe someone would actually damage a car to steal it.

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Queensmet on Apr 21, 2008

The government is not the one who will be doing the spying on us. It is industry, so they can charge us more. If they know you have been in a high crime area, it isn't a stretch to determine average speed of the car and report that info either. Insurance goes up because not only were you in a high crime area , but you were speeding too.

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Carfan54 on Apr 23, 2008

Don't be too hard on them, I don't know of a manufacturer in the industry that doesn't do EVERYTHING THEY DO for profit... :)

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