| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Darren
Frequent Visitor
Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40
Posts: 23848
Location: Hampshire, UK
|
 Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 10:37 am Post subject: US Senators call for removal of drink-drive apps |
 |
|
 Four U.S. Senators have asked Apple, Google and Research in Motion to stop selling apps that encourage or facilitate drink driving. There are a number of apps that seek to provide real-time alerts for drink drive checkpoints with users filing reports on their locations.
Google has responded to say that none of the apps infringe on any law or their store policies, Research in Motion have said they will remove those apps and Apple have not yet replied.
At first glance I think most of us would agree that apps that seek to enable drivers to drink and drive in such a way cannot be condoned but it raises an issue about the law itself.
As Google have pointed out, the apps don't transgress and US legislation and so are perfectly legal albeit distasteful so should it be the role of politicians to lobby app stores in this way or should they instead be debating the issues and updating legislation where necessary? It cannot be acceptable for four politicians to band together and effectively circumvent the law and seek to have a product removed from sale when it does not breach any legislation.
Is it the thin end of the wedge or justified action?
_________________
Darren Griffin |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
NickG
Frequent Visitor
Joined: Nov 09, 2003
Posts: 357
Location: UK
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 10:49 am Post subject: |
|
|
Surprised at this article with PGPSW being very pro-speeding. I would have thought you'd release your own iPhone app to help people drink-drive without getting caught?  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
MaFt
Pocket GPS Staff
Joined: Aug 31, 2005
Posts: 15356
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 11:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
| NickG wrote: | | Surprised at this article with PGPSW being very pro-speeding. I would have thought you'd release your own iPhone app to help people drink-drive without getting caught? |
Oooh, thank God for that smiley!!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Darren
Frequent Visitor
Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40
Posts: 23848
Location: Hampshire, UK
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 9:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
It seems that two apps were explicitly mentioned, PhantomAlert and Trapster.
Trapster some of you will know of, it's our US based competitor, recently bought by NAVTEQ.
_________________
Darren Griffin |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Philip
Regular Visitor
Joined: 12/09/2002 14:25:05
Posts: 141
Location: Hampshire, United Kingdom
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 11:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Darren wrote: | | I think most of us would agree that apps that seek to enable drivers to drink and drive in such a way cannot be condoned |
So would you equally say:
"I think most of us would agree that apps that seek to enable drivers to exceed the speed limit and drive in such a way cannot be condoned"
If not, why not?
_________________
Philip |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NickG
Frequent Visitor
Joined: Nov 09, 2003
Posts: 357
Location: UK
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 12:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Have to agree. Why do people need know where speed cameras and drink-drive traps are? I hope that all apps designed to allow people to drive while drunk or speeding eventually get banned so we can get these idiots off the roads (along with those who've adopted the new trend for texting while driving). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
MaFt
Pocket GPS Staff
Joined: Aug 31, 2005
Posts: 15356
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 12:43 am Post subject: |
|
|
| NickG wrote: | | Why do people need know where speed cameras ... are? |
because the government tell us that they are placed in accident blackspots (and many are) so by alerting to where cameras are we are alerting to dangerous places and thus aiding road safety.
MaFt |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NickG
Frequent Visitor
Joined: Nov 09, 2003
Posts: 357
Location: UK
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 12:56 am Post subject: |
|
|
| MaFt wrote: | | because the government tell us that they are placed in accident blackspots (and many are) so by alerting to where cameras are we are alerting to dangerous places and thus aiding road safety. |
I wish I believed that that's why people use alerting devices. Unfortunately when I see a camera detector on someone's dashboard - they're usually driving like an idiot with clear disregard for the potential for any accident. Two people I know have got camera detectors and both of them have speeding points. Interestingly, both of them also got all their points while their speed camera detectors were in use. One guy just said he didn't notice it beep because he was using an iPhone (and claims it's inaudible on a motorway with music on) and the other was caught twice in the same month by police with handheld guns while it going through Hampshire villages at 40. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Skippy
Pocket GPS Verifier
Joined: 24/06/2003 00:22:12
Posts: 2946
Location: Escaped to the Antipodies! 36.83°S 174.75°E
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 1:11 am Post subject: |
|
|
With anything like this, you are going to get people from both ends of the spectrum.
Does the camera database warn of "accident black spots" where you might inadvertently stray over the speed limit or does it allow people to flagrantly break the law by warning of fixed and mobile camera sites?
Does an app warning of where the drink driving check points are deter people from drink driving or facilitate drink driving by helping drivers avoid the law?
Does encryption software protect people's private information or help terrorists and paedophiles hide from the law?
_________________
Gone fishing! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BigPerk
Frequent Visitor
Joined: Sep 06, 2006
Posts: 1618
Location: East Hertfordshire
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 1:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | | Interestingly, both of them also got all their points while their speed camera detectors were in use. |
...So not the strongest argument for saying detectors help people to speed 'safely'?? 
I DO have mixed feelings about camera databases, and am much happier with the specs coming into use, as they must surely reduce the stupid braking which takes place with GATSO types (but DOESN'T happen if you are using PGPSW!!  ), and give a fairer chance to keep your speed within the limit.
If all limits were signposted clearly and were always logical, then I would say 'get caught - go to court' and no messing, but unfortunately we all know that strange limit changes take place at odd places, and repeaters are oddly missing or obscured, so it is useful to be reminded of them where necessary.
But PGPSW specifically does NOT include ANPR locations, for instance, because there we are really talking about definite premeditated criminal intentions being monitored, and presumably would not include drink check locations for the same reason (if they existed in the UK).
But speed camera locations surely CANNOT be said to condone speeding, because if they are used then no offence is committed - if they are ignored, then the offender deserves everything they get! 
_________________
David
(Navigon 70 Live, Nuvi 360) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Darren
Frequent Visitor
Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40
Posts: 23848
Location: Hampshire, UK
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 8:49 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Philip wrote: | So would you equally say:
"I think most of us would agree that apps that seek to enable drivers to exceed the speed limit and drive in such a way cannot be condoned"
If not, why not?[/color] |
No and we have been very clear on this from the outset. The warnings are not there to enable people to speed but to remind them of the limits, the need to curtail their speed and to be more aware of the road speeds.
It is an aid to safety, not an aid to speeding and I firmly believe that the vast majority of users are subscribers for just that reason.
_________________
Darren Griffin
Last edited by Darren on Fri Mar 25, 2011 8:57 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
MaFt
Pocket GPS Staff
Joined: Aug 31, 2005
Posts: 15356
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 8:54 am Post subject: |
|
|
| NickG wrote: | | MaFt wrote: | | because the government tell us that they are placed in accident blackspots (and many are) so by alerting to where cameras are we are alerting to dangerous places and thus aiding road safety. |
I wish I believed that that's why people use alerting devices. Unfortunately when I see a camera detector on someone's dashboard - they're usually driving like an idiot with clear disregard for the potential for any accident. |
...and you subscribe to our database.... why?
MaFt |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PedroStephano
Lifetime Member
![]()
Joined: Jul 12, 2006
Posts: 44
Location: South Herts (NOT London!)
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 9:43 am Post subject: Safety, protection of license and great reminder |
|
|
My reasons for subscribing to the database:-
Safety - I hate speeding. I hate accidentally speeding. I hate other people speeding. When my TomTom bleeps at me I become aware instantly of my speed and the legal speed. Any mismatch can be amended accordingly. With the frequency of placement of cameras, these bleeps are regular.
License - I need to drive for my living. It is possible, in these days of Specs-Pop-Ups, to lose your license in a day. Again, the expansion of the number of speed cameras makes this more and more possible.
Great reminder - my car is 104bhp 1.5 diesel, yet the soundproofing and performance of modern cars is such that it doesn't take much inattention to creep up over the speed limit. Not intentionally mind; PGPSW alerts prove a great reminder of the real speed and allows the driver to amend accordingly.
As stated before, I rate myself a safe driver (don't we all  ) and offer as evidence that my one and only speeding fine occured in 1998 on a motorway in the afternoon coming back home, where a speed zone popped up that wasn't there going out in the morning. A fair cop.
And one that probably woudn't have been saved by PGPSW in all honesty.
My wife hates the bings and bongs in the car when we're out and about, but if they weren't so flaming frequent I wouldn't need to have them.
A fortnight ago I photographed a camera in London where the surrounding road conditions definitely suggest "revenue raiser" not "safety camera" so any help I can have in maintaining my clean license is much appreciated.
_________________
iOS rokcs (but my typing - well....)
@PedroStephano |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Philip
Regular Visitor
Joined: 12/09/2002 14:25:05
Posts: 141
Location: Hampshire, United Kingdom
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 1:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Darren wrote: | | The warnings are not there to enable people to speed but to remind them of the limits |
But if that was true, then your application would just need to warn people whenever they were driving in excess of the speed limit - there would be no need to record where the speed measuring devices are located!
Anyway, aren't there reminders of the speed limit posted at the side of the road every few hundred metres? They are round signs, with a red border and the current speed limited listed in large friendly black digits. | Darren wrote: | | It is an aid to safety, not an aid to speeding and I firmly believe that the vast majority of users are subscribers for just that reason. |
Please. You can't really be that deluded. The ONLY reason that the vast majority of people subscribe to the PGPSW database is to be able to exceed the speed limit without getting caught.
_________________
Philip |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Darren
Frequent Visitor
Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40
Posts: 23848
Location: Hampshire, UK
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 1:17 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | | But if that was true, then your application would just need to warn people whenever they were driving in excess of the speed limit - there would be no need to record where the speed measuring devices are located! |
If we had access to a nationwide database of speed limits then that might be useful - we don't.
Please don't call me deluded just because I don't agree with your view. Your opinion is just that and is no more valid than mine on this issue.
I'm quite sure that the majority of subscribers are not tearaways seeking to knowingly exceed limits, you seem convinced otherwise. Now you've said your piece, I've said mine, we clearly aren't going to agree but let us not drag this into some tit for tat row.
_________________
Darren Griffin |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
![]() Posted: Today Post subject: Pocket GPS Advertising |
|
|
We see you’re using an ad-blocker. We’re fine with that and won’t stop you visiting the site.
Have you considered making a donation towards website running costs?. Or you could disable your ad-blocker for this site. We think you’ll find our adverts are not overbearing!
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
Forum FAQ
Search
Usergroups
Profile
Log in for private messages
Log in
