** Note: I'm neither condoning nor condemning speeding in this idea, simply presenting a way to make existing technology fairer. **

Because speed cameras don't have the ability to exercise discretion, UK agencies have announced that they're changing the way speeding motorists are fined. Instead of a simple fine if you're over the limit, the new fines will be proportional to the driver’s excess speed.

Wouldn't it be better to build "discretion" into the machines? A timer could easily make the machines trap motorists at (say) 33mph during the school run, but 40mph outside of school run hours. A sensor could identify poor visibility, or wet conditions, and reduce the machines tolerance accordingly.
-- Fishrat, Sep 01 2004

This would also be useful in countries like France, where the speed limit drops when it's raining.
-- oneoffdave, Sep 01 2004



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