Big Brother (and the Insuarance Companies) are Watching
I've been noticing more of those video cameras around town, you know, the ones that bust you if you run a red light. These cameras are probably a good thing, especially when it comes to seeing who is at fault in an accident, but I think we have to be careful as to how far we go with this. We probably have or in the near future will have the technology to see everything every driver does at anytime and any place on the highways and streets, via camera's and from car computer's that would relay driving information to "the authorities". But what would it mean if you get a ticket every time you technically broke a traffic law?
The insurance industry understands that nobody can drive anywhere, for any length of time, without breaking at least one traffic law. Personally, I believe the safer of a driver you are, the more laws and rules you break. You understand which laws are safe to break and when, and you understand when you need follow the rules to the letter. Can you imagine everybody driving like a stiff 16 year old taking his drivers test? When you get comfortable behind the wheel, when you really know what you are doing, you drive more in a "flow" rather than the rigid "follow every rule to the letter" type of driving. A "flow" driver might role thru a four way stop sign if there are no other cars in sight. A "flow" driver might speed on a freeway (never tailgaiting or cutting other cars off) but would never speed in a residential neighborhood because he/she understands that there are children playing and cars backing out of driveways without looking. It's all about being relaxed, being totally attentive, and trusting your skills and instincts.
Now imagine if you got a ticket in the mail for every single driving infraction you broke. Who would gain from this? Insurance companies and city coffers. On the other hand, it really wouldn't work because in no time at all, everybody would loose their drivers license due to too many tickets. But if there's a way for the government and the insurance companies to increase their profits and income, and still keep everybody driving, I'm sure we can count on politicians, with the aid of insurance industry lobbyist's to figure it out. A good start is to post camera's over stop lights.