Intelligent Road Studs

Copley writes "The BBC have a short story about 'intelligent' cat's eyes (reflective road studs). I remember reading about the principle of these years ago. It seems that they've reached the real-world trial stage. The whole concept is pretty cool - the studs monitor weather and traffic speeds and change their colour accordingly. As you drive along, rather than see your own headlights reflected, you see a line of active lights indicating what you can expect ahead of you: stationary traffic, ice, etc. As I recall, one idea proposed was for your own car to leave a trail of lights behind it, the length of which related to your speed. The trail thus indicated the 'danger-you-are-too-close-you-moron' zone behind you. Drivers could then avoid driving within another car's trail. Neat idea, but I somehow doubt even the most technical of safety systems is ever going to change the driving habits of some of the brain-dead, tail-gating idiots I often have to share the roads with... Perhaps intelligent road studs with assault weaponry to take out bad drivers would be more useful!"

Comments

Re:An idea who's time...

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Chips already regulate speeds in cars now. Police Crown Victorias are almost completely stock, just without the 'Guv chip.

Not even close. Cop Crown Vics get different suspension, transmission, rear-end, wider rims and tires, different headers, a larger fan and radiator, an oversize alternator, 4-wheel disc brakes (stock has drums in back), a more powerful AC compressor, and stiffer springs and shocks. None of these items are stock, and most of them are not available as an option to the public (new from the manufacturer, anyway). If the locale can afford it, other items are available like a small screw-drive motor to crack the hood open from inside the car, a second battery, battery relocation to the trunk, and bumper upgrades. Then of course, you have all the usual cop equipment (lights, radios, cages, etc).

So, no, they don't just have an ungoverned engine.

A good friend of mine used to do final prep on cop cars at a local dealership that cranks out about 1000 cop cars per year.