Google Street View inspires police Smart enforcement vehicles
There’s no doubting that Google Street View is an incredible use of technology. However, the service has also heralded complaints in just about every country it has so far rolled out in, the UK being no exception. The privacy concerns don’t seem to have made any difference, and despite them British police are now trialling similar technology in order to catch criminals.
I say criminals, but what I actually mean is naughty drivers. Driving may be second nature to most people after a few months behind the wheel but it’s a pastime/necessity that is inherently dangerous. Even the act of getting in a car and driving it at the legal speed limit can end in tragedy for both passengers in the car and pedestrians outside the vehicle.
Unfortunately many drivers add to the dangers of driving by paying undue care and attention in the most ridiculous of ways: driving while using a mobile phone – even though there are a glut of hands-free options available, applying makeup, smoking, eating, you name it. These things may be illegal for drivers in charge of vehicles but that doesn’t stop people continuing to do them.
Taking Google Street View as its template, British police, in conjunction with road safety group DriveSafe, have decided to take the fight to the roads, literally. According to The Telegraph, the scheme is currently on trial in Greater Manchester before possibly being expanded elsewhere are Smart enforcement vehicles.
In essence the vehicles are Google Street View camera cars but with a more specific and legitimate aim in mind: to catch naughty drivers in the act. The cars have roof-mounted cameras capable of taking photographs in a 360 degrees view around them. Anyone caught on camera doing something they shouldn’t will receive notification in the post along with a fine and possible points on their license.
As with Google Street View many are already arguing that this scheme is a infringement on privacy and civil liberties. While I have sympathy with this view I also find it hard to argue against the merits of a scheme intended to cut crime and improve road safety. Maybe on this occasion the end result justifies the means.
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