Mike, I see your point here, but I think there is one think motorists don't
think of.  That is the formula for kinetic energy is   1/2Mass times
Velocity squared.

If you hit a person and you are going 30mph, you will do a certain amount of
damage, lets say 30 squared is 900.  If you are going 35mph the damage goes
up 36 percent to 1225...

I am not saying I have never broken the speed limit, but 5 mph over the
limit is enough to easily kill someone, rather than just break their legs.
Or if you put it another way, you have to get rid of 36% more energy to stop
the vehicle from hitting someone.

Brian.



-----Original Message-----
From: pic microcontroller discussion list
[mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU]On Behalf Of Michael Rigby-Jones
Sent: 15 June 2004 13:01
To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: Re: [OT]: detecting emergency vehicles



Unfortunately the UK's previous excellent road safety record is no longer
so.  Our road death rate was falling every year from sometime in the 1950's
to around 1993, whereupon it leveled out, and now remains at around 2400 pa.
A quick look at the goverments road saftey policy reveals that at exactly
this time, they started their unjustified crusade against motorists, and
speed camera use started to become widespread.  Along with the increase in
the number of cameras has come a significant decrease in the numbers of
traffic police.  In their naivety, the government appear to think that a
speed camera can replace a police officer.  This policy, guided by narrow
minds and utter stupidity is actually costing us lives.  Testement to this
is the now record number of drunk drivers, uninsured/unlicensed drivers and
unroadworthy cars on UK roads.  A secondary effect is the disgust and
general alienation of the police by the majority of UK motoring public.
Penalty points on the licence, and speeding fines are now virtualy an
accepted way of life.  Even insurance companies do not load premiums for
minor speeding offences.

For an excellent summary of how attacking "speed" as the primary cause of
road accidents will backfire massively, take a look at
http://www.safespeed.org.uk

Regards

Mike




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