Posted on Tuesday 26 February 2008
Tricksters can no longer dodge traffic through carpool lanes by using dummies or pets to fill that required extra seat. New technology developed at Loughborough University detects the number of occupants in the car through a device that measure water and blood content, meaning that Rex is no longer big enough to fill the required content and the dummy is caught out straight away (unless of course you fill it with a sufficient amount of water and blood).
The technology will initially be used in Leeds, but it is expected that other districts throughout Britain will be interested in the technology, especially considering the new camera’s potential for revenue raising. While the move is designed to reduce congestion in carpool lanes and pollution throughout the district, the cameras could also be used to measure how many people are traveling in and out of certain areas and plan traffic and emergency-situation management around this data, ultimately serving a dual purpose.
Current statistics indicate that 4 out of 5 cars in Britain’s cities during rush hour have a single occupant, and the new camera may encourage people to travel as groups to save time during the rush hour. Perhaps the greatest gain in terms of this technology will be people that take public transport, as the carpool lanes will no longer be clogged by people avoiding traffic by using dummies and thus allow buses to travel freely. Ultimately the effect of this technology is uncertain - it could create more traffic as previously illegal carpool lane users are forced to travel through regular traffic, but it could also reduce congestion by encouraging more people to travel in the carpool lane with legitimate occupants. Only one thing is really certain about the new cameras - the local governments will be getting even more revenue out of motorists.
……….theyre really serious about their bus lanes arent they?
Ok ewwww
I’m sure someone will figure out a way to beat this — that does not require a lot of water or blood.
If the tendency remains the same, the UK is pretty much going to ban all motor vehicules that arent buses within a couple of years
peste they arent trying to ban cars, just punish those who will cheat the system. Im sure you have commuter lanes where ever you live.
Yeah… someone in UK hates cars.
Doesn’t make too much sense, but maybe I’m just not smart enough.
How does it know the water and blood content?
If two small people are riding in the car that wiegh the same as one large one, how does it know the difference?
How does it know the difference between a large dog and a small person or child? (Here in the US even a baby counts as a passenger for carpool lane purposes, I don’t know what the law is in the UK).
Man, England is really turning into the mother of an all controlling society…
I was thinking the same thing, what does this thing do when it sees a baby or a small kid?
@ chris: when a law is unjust it’s our duty to try to cheat it.
I for one would never go live in England. It’s scary what’s happening over there.