Traffic drones

[missmuffet]

I think law enforcement should use drones to survey traffic. I see all kind of crazy things happening on our highways. There is not enough law to go around to do an adequate policing of the automobiles on our streets and freeways and hiways. People are getting away with all kind of crazy driving. A drone hoving above all the streets and hiways would solve the problem. It would have the capabilities of getting the make and license plate number of the vehicle and even the person driving. I think it would make a huge difference in the way people drive when their lack of respect in our hiway laws would come out of their pocket book. 

[Galleon]

I get what you mean. Every time I get behind the wheel, I have to deal with at least one other driver being a knucklehead. It's annoying.

However, I don't see drones coming into use. You have to consider the cost and maintenance, as well as the workload amount vs worker limit. You've got 10 "Traffic Drone Operators/Monitors" with what is likely a large area to cover as well as hundreds of infractions daily. It would be mostly wasted money. Not to mention most authorities don't actually care about petty/minor offenses, even though they're far too common and can become big problems.

I can think of two other solutions. The first would be a more extensive driving exam. Not the written part but the actual driving part. All I had to do was drive a few blocks for my test and I got my license. Convenient for time, yes, but by no means was it a true test. I did not have to parallel park, did not have to deal with different kinds of streets... So many things the driver could and probably should be tested on.

Then, many of the newer cars have all these dumb little gadgets and gizmos on them to boost the price. Monitors and what not. If something is too close to your bumper, it beeps and stops itself. Why not use these little knick-knacks as a way of monitoring infractions? I don't really know how it would do that, but if it was possible, it might help. Then, rather than leave it to PDs who won't care much (and have far more pressing concerns), have it monitored by either the city or the DMV. I'm sure either one would get a real thrill out of issuing and collecting fines.

[missmuffet]

54 minutes ago, Galleon said:

I get what you mean. Every time I get behind the wheel, I have to deal with at least one other driver being a knucklehead. It's annoying.

However, I don't see drones coming into use. You have to consider the cost and maintenance, as well as the workload amount vs worker limit. You've got 10 "Traffic Drone Operators/Monitors" with what is likely a large area to cover as well as hundreds of infractions daily. It would be mostly wasted money. Not to mention most authorities don't actually care about petty/minor offenses, even though they're far too common and can become big problems.

I can think of two other solutions. The first would be a more extensive driving exam. Not the written part but the actual driving part. All I had to do was drive a few blocks for my test and I got my license. Convenient for time, yes, but by no means was it a true test. I did not have to parallel park, did not have to deal with different kinds of streets... So many things the driver could and probably should be tested on.

Then, many of the newer cars have all these dumb little gadgets and gizmos on them to boost the price. Monitors and what not. If something is too close to your bumper, it beeps and stops itself. Why not use these little knick-knacks as a way of monitoring infractions? I don't really know how it would do that, but if it was possible, it might help. Then, rather than leave it to PDs who won't care much (and have far more pressing concerns), have it monitored by either the city or the DMV. I'm sure either one would get a real thrill out of issuing and collecting fines.

I don't think it would be wasted money. I think in the overall financial outcome States would be bringing in a ton of money. Look at all the lawlessness on our roads. The problem today is that law enforcement don't care. I have seen multiple people speeding and going through red lights and they don't do anything about it. But look at how the police drive. Who will give them a ticket? They think that they have it made. 

[johnthebaptist]

2 hours ago, missmuffet said:

I think law enforcement should use drones to survey traffic. I see all kind of crazy things happening on our highways. There is not enough law to go around to do an adequate policing of the automobiles on our streets and freeways and hiways. People are getting away with all kind of crazy driving. A drone hoving above all the streets and hiways would solve the problem. It would have the capabilities of getting the make and license plate number of the vehicle and even the person driving. I think it would make a huge difference in the way people drive when their lack of respect in our hiway laws would come out of their pocket book. 

All that you say might be right, but I'm a bit uncomfortable with the idea of drones flying all around. It wouldn't just be law enforcement - all kinds of people are flying those things, aren't they?

[missmuffet]

48 minutes ago, johnthebaptist said:

All that you say might be right, but I'm a bit uncomfortable with the idea of drones flying all around. It wouldn't just be law enforcement - all kinds of people are flying those things, aren't they?

I would think the only ones who would be uncomfortable about it is those who are not keeping the laws. Those who would like to see some lawfulness in the roads would be ok with it. 

[johnthebaptist]

3 minutes ago, missmuffet said:

I would think the only ones who would be uncomfortable about it is those who are not keeping the laws. Those who would like to see some lawfulness in the roads would be ok with it. 

Drones can run into things or fall on top of us.

[Neighbor]

5 minutes ago, johnthebaptist said:

Drones can run into things or fall on top of us.

Reminds me of an old story about the man that feared flying so he always traveled by train. He got killed in a  train wreck.

Seems a commercial airliner crashed onto it.

[johnthebaptist]

2 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

Reminds me of an old story about the man that feared flying so he always traveled by train. He got killed in a  train wreck.

Seems a commercial airliner crashed onto it.

I'm not fond of self-driving cars, either.

[johnthebaptist]

4 minutes ago, Flowersun said:

They can also blow us up!....LOL...

Hope they aren't arming them with nuclear weapons.

[Neighbor]

3 hours ago, missmuffet said:

I think law enforcement should use drones to survey traffic. I see all kind of crazy things happening on our highways. There is not enough law to go around to do an adequate policing of the automobiles on our streets and freeways and hiways. People are getting away with all kind of crazy driving. A drone hoving above all the streets and hiways would solve the problem. It would have the capabilities of getting the make and license plate number of the vehicle and even the person driving. I think it would make a huge difference in the way people drive when their lack of respect in our hiway laws would come out of their pocket book. 

 I think all of us including the police officers could do with fewer officers tied up doing department fund raising by writing tickets for driving infractions. It is far too dangerous to stop people today. We could instead just raise the taxes on road use.

Recent history of automated traffic regulation enforcement shows it causes a multitude of wrecks. That is why most communities now have removed their cameras used  to issue tickets that are run by  private for profit corporations.

Simple rule of common order is if you find other vehicles are passing you on the right side of your vehicle move over and let other vehicles pass you by  more safely on the left of you! Do not be the killer clog on the main arteries.

It might be helpful to suspend and then revoke altogether the licenses of those that clog the fast lanes by driving slow  hogging the road causing all sorts of dangerous maneuvers by others trying to get around these slow movers.

Do no think yourself the "Death Wish" avenger of the highways just be courteous, move over let  others by;  they will soon be past you without incident.

PS - I tried one of those insurance company monitors in attempt to lower my insurance cost, but pulled it  after two  months. The thing  with it's beeping as I braked in heavy traffic was influencing the rate at which I stopped causing me to come close to crashing into vehicles. No matter how slow I drove I still had to stop quickly in traffic, but the thing isn't programmed to recognize that. It just beeps - stopping too suddenly  - stopping too quick.

Today's vehicles are not like grandmas 56 Buick. They are built to run fast, stop quickly, and be very nibble on the road. They need not be limited to doing 45 in the day  and 40 at night. Grandma's 56 Buick does not belong on the freeway anyway. She need take the scenic highway during off peak traffic hours if driving it.

Why I find one can do 85 even through Atlanta around 2:00 pm and get passed up by others. So if I don't want to do 85 I stay out of the fast lane there. Traffic flows really well until someone decides that they will regulate everyone else by clogging the fast lane by doing only 60. Then the whole system clogs and we end up in stop and go clogs.

God speed each and everyone safely on their journeys.