UK Police Want An Automotive Tractor Beam

Barryke writes "According to The Observer, England is working on a remote control for cars to be used by the police. England's police force is lobbying to get a remote-control to stop other cars; this could also be used to limit speeds. Since needed technology is already available in modern cars, modification is very easy and cheap. But what if I just escape by hitting the clutch and use my speed to go downhill? Bet I'm in the hospital before they are!" Orwellian, or ... Californian?

Comments

Same old liberal objections.

[zihamesh]

As per usual, the civil liberty brigade are up in arms over what could actually be a beneficial weapon in the fight against crime. The same arguments were rolled out when identity card were proposed by the UK Government. i.e. "Its a bad idea because of problems x and y and z".

The question isn't whether taking control over speeding cars is good or bad, its "Will it make our streets safer ?"

For instance, if the number of deaths and injuries to innocent bystanders caused by drivers trying to outrun the police is less than the number who are killed or injured by the use of the technology then the answer to the question "Will it make our streets safer ?" is yes.