Cars In The UAE Will Have IBM-Installed Back Seat Drivers
from the as-if-i-need-yet-another-voice-nagging-at-me dept
In an effort to stem a rising tide of automobile-related accident deaths, the UAE has contracted IBM to install telematics "black boxes" in tens of thousands of emergency and government vehicles. The systems will be connected to a nationwide wireless network, making it the largest telematics network in the world. In addition to tracking vehicle speed and location, the system will also vocally warn the driver if they are speeding. While this is a huge win for IBM in its big bet on becoming the world's high-end services and business process vendor, will this system actually make the roads any safer? We've discussed numerous times here that speed cameras don't work. Also, in the case of traffic light cameras, thinking that big brother is watching makes for some nervous, brake-happy drivers -- which, in turn, results in a higher number of rear-end collisions at camera equipped traffic signals. With the telematics system, the UAE could end up with a nation full of enraged drivers, not paying attention to the road because they're busy being nagged by their cars for driving too fast. Just because big brother is watching doesn't mean it's safer.
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Different legal system
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Re: Different legal system
PS: I am from UAE myself.
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Re: Different legal system
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Cars UAE's Back Seat Drivers
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Re: Cars UAE's Back Seat Drivers
I think the Taxi system in Dubai is among the finest and safest in the world, with GPS tracking, well-versed drivers, abundant availability of cars and fairly low fares. I welcome new innovation, as long as it does not mean rising costs.
Dubai cab fares are more than double the neighbouring Emirates of Abu Dhabi or Sharjah.
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accidents
1. Increasing penalties for speeding, double them, triple them, whatever. Make them high enough to make the 'rich' nationals here think twice about speeding.
2. Put radars or cameras EVERYWHERE because people actually slow down for these (Im a national in Abudhabi).
Get rid of the corruption at the traffic department where some peope get out of paying for speeding tickets.
3. Close down all the private driving training companies because some of the instructors don't know what they're doing. Currently, a monopoly is present, however dozens of cheaper private companies flourish because of their low service costs
4. Maybe raise the minimum driving age. 18 may be too young for the nationals.
The accident numbers are one the highest in the World. Something should HAS to be done.
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