NSA collected phone records - Tens of millions of calls

[Kal]

I was reading about that in Nick Sanders book "Journey Beyond Reason"

I wasn't sure if that were actually true or if it was just an euphanism for another road the Nick didn't keep the speed on the R1 down

(The US section was particularly quick!)

[MrGompers]

To bring this back on topic. It appears that this wire tapping scheme was "busted" by a whistle blower at AT&T. Link contains lots of background info and dates.

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0, ... page_prev2

The story keeps getting better & better. It even has "secret rooms"

If only the room number was "101"

[sv-wolf]

As I mentioned, there is evidence here as well that reducing the speed limits on non-urban roads actually increases the number of accidents. There was a recent report which focused on new limits in the county of Suffolk.

But the debate about speed cameras is really part of a wider debate about regulation of the road. The Netherlands have been experimenting with reducing the number of restrictions and eliminating signage.

It all started on a single junction which had a high number of accidents. Over the years more and more signs and traffic control measures were added and the accident rate just continued to rise. Then someone had a bright idea. They removed everything, all the lights, all the signs, all the road markings, everything. Results: accident rate fell almost to nothing.

Force drivers to take responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others and the results are good. Excessive regulation as a rule does not work.

Bear in mind also that the authorities who regulate the roads have their own agendas, and they do not always act in the interests of road users, or what road users percieve to be their interests.

[NorthernPete]

would it be better to abolish speed limits and just put limiters on cars then? cant speed if the car cant go any faster. solves all the above problems....

I dont know, Questioning authority is fine, but theres a difference between questioning the laws and breaking them.

I think those cameras should be instaled, not on major high ways and what not, but community saftey zones and residential zones that are on thoroughfares. When the speed limit drops from 90 Km/h to 50 there should be something there to make sure you slow, because theres a reason to slow, kids and people and what not. place them in areas where they make a difference.

[Kal]

would it be better to abolish speed limits and just put limiters on cars then? cant speed if the car cant go any faster. solves all the above problems....

Vested interests.

Someone has to pony up the cash for all those political campaigns...

[sv-wolf]

Sorry! Ignore this. Just my tecno-incompetence.

[sv-wolf]

would it be better to abolish speed limits and just put limiters on cars then? cant speed if the car cant go any faster. solves all the above problems....

You may laugh, but a pilot scheme to do just that is being prepared for London, at this very moment. The plan is to put limiters in all cars here over the next fifteen or so years. These limiters would be hooked up to sattelite tracking devices and to roadside eqipment that will automatically cut a vehicle's fuel supply if it is travelling faster than the local speed limit.

I dont know, Questioning authority is fine, but theres a difference between questioning the laws and breaking them.

Of course. But you don't get anywhere by assuming that governments who make laws are some kind of benign daddy figures whose only concern is to look after you and your interests. Because they certainly aren't. As anyone knows who's ever paid any attention at all, governments represent the interests of minority power groups in society and these interests are unlikely to be the same as yours. Sitting back and just letting governments 'look after you' is a recipe for disaster.

And sometimes the only way to question the law IS to break it, as civil disobedience campaigns round the world have shown - though I can't see how that would help matters in this instance - which is pretty trivial (though very annoying) in the larger scheme of things.

[sv-wolf]

I was reading about that in Nick Sanders book "Journey Beyond Reason"

I wasn't sure if that were actually true or if it was just an euphanism for another road the Nick didn't keep the speed on the R1 down

(The US section was particularly quick!)

I had a chat with Nick Sanders at the BMF last week. I was surprised to find that he was such a quiet mild-mannered guy - it didn't seem to fit at all with what he does.

[jstark47]

You may laugh, but a pilot scheme to do just that is being prepared for London, at this very moment. The plan is to put limiters in all cars here over the next fifteen or so years. These limiters would be hooked up to sattelite tracking devices and to roadside eqipment that will automatically cut a vehicle's fuel supply if it is travelling faster than the local speed limit.

Every time my concern about erosion of civil liberties in the USA rachets up a notch, I then hear an anecdote that convinces me things are even worse in the UK in this regard. My sympathies to our brethren 'across the pond.'

[NorthernPete]

ya know civil liberties aside, those limiters might not be a bad idea. If they would save one kid from being hit by a speeder going through a residential zone at 90KM/H I think its worth it....

maybe have them installed on habitual offenders? driving is a privalidge, not a right.