• New cars to call police automatically from a crash
    54 replies, posted
[B]All new cars will be fitted with a tracking device that will automatically alert the emergency services in the event of an accident, under EU plans. [/B]MEPs this week backed moves to make the eCall system, which uses sensors to call the nearest emergency centre when a car crashes, mandatory from 2015. The European Commission has dismissed privacy fears, saying it could save up to 2,500 lives a year. The UK government has yet to sign up to the initiative due to cost concerns. The EU already has a cross-European emergency services number, 112, which can be accessed from any member state. The European Commission wants to extend this service by connecting it to a device in people's cars. [B]The eCall system is triggered by sensors in the vehicle like those which cause protective airbags to explode in a crash[/B] Once triggered, the device automatically contacts the nearest emergency service centre, via the 112 service. It transmits the exact location of the vehicle and other data, such as the make of the car, and establishes a voice connection with the emergency services operator. Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan opposed the proposal when it was debated in the European Parliament. He told the parliament: "My constituents have never said, in the 13 years I've being doing this job, that what they want is a common European number to call in emergencies." Keith Taylor, a Green MEP and member of the Transport and Tourism Committee, supports the system, saying: "From a road a safety point of view it has got to be a good idea. We must stop thinking people have a right to drive a car. It is a responsibility to drive safely." The Commission now wants it to be compulsory for all cars made in the EU, at a cost of around £80 (100 euros) for each device, when fitted in the factory. Making the system mandatory could, the Commission says, cut emergency response times by up to 50%, saving thousands of lives each year and reducing the severity of injuries of those involved in accidents. [B]Concerns have been raised over data protection, but the Commission argues that because the eCall normally "sleeps" and does not allow vehicle tracking outside emergencies this was not a problem.[/B] Dieter-Lebrecht Koch, a German MEP and vice-chair of the Transport and Tourism Committee, said the system had the support of 80% of European drivers and claimed thousands of people would be alive today if emergency services had reached them sooner. [B]Other functions, like real-time traffic information and data on the availability of parking spaces, "could be incorporated in due course", he added.[/B] The UK government is concerned about the cost of a mandatory eCall system suggesting it may outweigh any benefits as the UK already has a good road safety record. Transport minister Mike Penning said "Britain has some of the safest roads in the world and technology has an important role to play in this, but it is important that each initiative is carefully considered on its merits. "After considering the results of independent research we are concerned that the benefits of making eCall mandatory in all new cars will not justify the cost of implementing it in the UK. [B]We have decided, therefore, that it would not be appropriate for the UK to support mandatory installation of eCall at this stage.[/B] [URL]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18677335[/URL]
This is a good idea. You could potentially catch the criminal, and quickly help victims.
They would secretly use GPS technology to track your every movement! The government is using this to track you! It doesn't SLEEP during non-emergencies! More like STALK! Bastards!
In ALL cars? That's pretty cool, and it will save lives.
And none of you are concerned that they're trying to filter and look through all of your net traffic either, right, uh-huh.
[QUOTE=Worldwaker;36621167]And none of you are concerned that they're trying to filter and look through all of your net traffic either, right, uh-huh.[/QUOTE] Shut up you are derailing the thread with bullshit.
[QUOTE=King Tiger;36621209]Shut up you are derailing the thread with bullshit.[/QUOTE] There are some legitimate privacy concerns when it comes to a system like this.
[QUOTE=AaRoNg11;36621440]There are some legitimate privacy concerns when it comes to a system like this.[/QUOTE] I can't shake the thought of someone possibly tracking my car out of all cars in the EU when I'm going shopping
System encounters a bug that keeps calling the cops when nothing happened.
With a "legally" obtained warrant they can track your car's GPS position with 0 effort. Dont tell me it will sleep most of the time.
The US Government already has "legal" rights to monitor all web traffic to "suspected" foreign IP's, so, good luck with the whole GPS tracking in every vehicle thing, EU, and of course it's not like a satellite has ever been hacked before, right guys.. Right?
New cars look like ass. I plan on buying a Datsun B210 and fixing it up. 30-40 mpg on a car from the 70's, suck it, hybrids.
[img]http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/onstar-630.jpg[/img] :rolleye:
They already do this.
[QUOTE=Unsmart;36621598]With a "legally" obtained warrant they can track your car's GPS position with 0 effort. Dont tell me it will sleep most of the time.[/QUOTE] So could you define a warrant that is illegal
We've had this sort of thing in the US on a voluntary-ish basis for years now. Buy a new GM car from ~2005 or so to today and chances are it has OnStar, which does exactly this. My main concern would be whether or not it could be disabled if the owner is so inclined. I don't want it going off if I'm at the dragstrip and launch particularly well with a modified engine, for example...as seen in this video. [video=youtube;8As1zshWxn0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8As1zshWxn0[/video] Last thing I need is the police getting a call every five minutes while I'm having fun at the dragstrip or something. lol. As for privacy concerns, as long as it's completely off until the airbags deploy there's no way for it to be misused. The privacy concerns will only arise if it's always on, and honestly if I were designing it I'd have it activate when the airbags deploy to avoid this very issue.
[QUOTE=scout1;36621853]So could you define a warrant that is illegal[/QUOTE] Warrants without singnatures
[QUOTE=TestECull;36622020]As for privacy concerns, as long as it's completely off until the airbags deploy there's no way for it to be misused. The privacy concerns will only arise if it's always on, and honestly if I were designing it I'd have it activate when the airbags deploy to avoid this very issue.[/QUOTE] I think that's what they mean when they say that it "sleeps" until something happens.
[QUOTE=Chicken_Chaser;36622022]Warrants without singnatures[/QUOTE] Which is clearly unsigned and would not be enforceable??
I really wish they offered Onstar to more than just Jeep and GM products, like if Toyota had a similar service.
Its a good thought, but I agree with several others. Let me, the owner, control when it does its thing and I'll be fine with it. Don't take control of the situation away from me in the name of "the public good"
If the government can get a warrantless order to track you with OnStar, they can do the same for this system. I am extremely skeptical and distrusting of any government effort to mandate GPS devices in cars from the factory. Also, what happened to two people bumping into each other, shaking hands, and exchanging insurance information. The cops don't need to be involved in EVERY event that could trigger a sensor. Not to mention every little scrape you get into will automatically summon the cops to root through your car and interrogate you about where you were going and what you were doing. Hell, in Chicago or LA if you call 911 to report an accident, they respond with "Is somebody seriously injured? No? Then fuck off, this line is for emergencies".
[QUOTE=ewitwins;36622261]I really wish they offered Onstar to more than just Jeep and GM products, like if Toyota had a similar service.[/QUOTE] While Onstar itself is only really used in Jeep and GM cars, other manufacturers have systems similar to it. BMW Assist, for example.
[QUOTE=Leo Leonardo;36622391]While Onstar itself is only really used in Jeep and GM cars, other manufacturers have systems similar to it. BMW Assist, for example.[/QUOTE] onstar is selling a standalone thing now but it has to be installed by best buy
[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;36622362] Also, what happened to two people bumping into each other, shaking hands, and exchanging insurance information. The cops don't need to be involved in EVERY event that could trigger a sensor. Not to mention every little scrape you get into will automatically summon the cops to root through your car and interrogate you about where you were going and what you were doing. [/QUOTE] I thought about this but if it only triggers when the airbags go off, then it will only trigger for a serious accident. But also, as far as the police are concerned, an accident is always someones fault. Whether they were driving too close, drinking, tired, speeding etc, they need to find out why it happened.
[QUOTE=jordguitar;36621779][img]http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/onstar-630.jpg[/img] :rolleye:[/QUOTE] What if you slid off the side of the road into a tree due to ice, and were knocked unconscious, being made unable to alert OnStar? This system could save your life in a situation where you become incapacitated. [editline]4th July 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;36622362]If the government can get a warrantless order to track you with OnStar, they can do the same for this system. I am extremely skeptical and distrusting of any government effort to mandate GPS devices in cars from the factory. Also, what happened to two people bumping into each other, shaking hands, and exchanging insurance information. The cops don't need to be involved in EVERY event that could trigger a sensor. Not to mention every little scrape you get into will automatically summon the cops to root through your car and interrogate you about where you were going and what you were doing. Hell, in Chicago or LA if you call 911 to report an accident, they respond with "Is somebody seriously injured? No? Then fuck off, this line is for emergencies".[/QUOTE] I don't think it'll go off at the slightest bump. If it did you'd have the police at your house every time the neighbor's kid accidentally hit your car with a soccer ball, or if you used the jet setting on your hose. As stated before me it probably only activates if airbags are deployed.
I'm not usually the one to call "government monitoring", but this could very easily be abused to track your whereabouts even when you haven't crashed.
[QUOTE=Bentham;36624065]What if you slid off the side of the road into a tree due to ice, and were knocked unconscious, being made unable to alert OnStar? This system could save your life in a situation where you become incapacitated. [editline]4th July 2012[/editline] I don't think it'll go off at the slightest bump. If it did you'd have the police at your house every time the neighbor's kid accidentally hit your car with a soccer ball, or if you used the jet setting on your hose. As stated before me it probably only activates if airbags are deployed.[/QUOTE] The entire system is automated with force meters and airbag sensors. If the airbag goes off it auto dials their emergency center and gives the operator your exact location
[QUOTE=jordguitar;36624897]The entire system is automated with force meters and airbag sensors. If the airbag goes off it auto dials their emergency center and gives the operator your exact location[/QUOTE] Sounds useful. [editline]4th July 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Mr. Smartass;36624821]I'm not usually the one to call "government monitoring", but this could very easily be abused to track your whereabouts even when you haven't crashed.[/QUOTE] So could standard GPS systems. Except this actually has the potential to save your life in a serious situation. If I've just wrecked alone in the dark on some highway in the middle of nowhere, my first thought isn't going to be "That damn government is going to know where I am" It'll be "Thank God they know where to find me".
[QUOTE=Bentham;36624065]What if you slid off the side of the road into a tree due to ice, and were knocked unconscious, being made unable to alert OnStar? This system could save your life in a situation where you become incapacitated. [editline]4th July 2012[/editline] I don't think it'll go off at the slightest bump. If it did you'd have the police at your house every time the neighbor's kid accidentally hit your car with a soccer ball, or if you used the jet setting on your hose. As stated before me it probably only activates if airbags are deployed.[/QUOTE] On-Star calls your car to see if you're alright in the case your airbags are deployed. If there's no answer or confirmation, they go right ahead and send paramedics your way. [editline]whoops[/editline] whoops late
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