New Big Brother Technology Measures Driver Aggression
The Motor Authority reports that GreenRoad Technologies has developed a monitoring system that determines whether or not the person behind the wheel is "aggressive" or "safe." They claim that transforming one to the other equates to a "54% reduction in crashes and an 83% reduction in crash costs." To achieve these unbelievable results, GreenRoad's G-force meters measure roughly 120 different driver actions: acceleration, turning, breaking, middle finger saluting, etc. If the computer deems that a driver's too "aggressive," a red light flashes. Because that's safe. The box also builds a "user profile," which is (presumably) stored by GreenRoad Technologies and could be (theoretically) sent to the police, future employers and/or insurance agents. Using the same battle cry as the Simpsons' Mrs. Reverend Lovejoy, GreenRoad is hocking the system to parents who want to monitor their teens' driving habits. While my driving style would burn that red light out in seven minutes flat, in the 17 years I've had my license, I've caused zero accidents, injured zero people and died zero times. Unless you count "died and gone to heaven." Include me out.
Cleanup driver for Team Black Metal V8olvo.
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I don't really agree either, I think we are all adults and need to be trusted at least a little by our own government. IF only cars had been around 240 years ago there would have been provisions in the BOR for them I am sure. What starts out as an interesting study with the intent of understanding why people are assholes behind the wheel gets seized upon as a new tool in crime fighting. Cars have always been a strange 4th amendment issue since the state regulates and licenses vehicles, their operation and the drivers. This gives them broad powers of discovery and leads to invasions of privacy. The standard for just cause is laughably low, so vehicle checkpoints, roadside searches, and presumtions of guilt when pulled over for perceived infractions put the driver t a disadvantage. The standard argument runs that we have to take a breath or consume food but driving is a pleasurable option for our lives. Privilege versus a right. Maybe we need a new amendment that grants us the right to move freely upon the roadways as if we were walking in our homes.
So does this measure things like following distance and reactions from other cars to my driving habits or is it actually useless? Like Jonny, I'd be considered aggressive and dangerous despite a clean record. Want to know how safe a driver is? How many accidents has he or she caused and how severe were they.
I agree that future cars will be public spaces not private ones.