Is Your GPS Naive? 291
mi writes "Many GPS devices today will try to scan the FM bands for traffic advisories in the area to display on their screens. The signals, however, are neither authenticated nor encrypted, and one can — with commonly available electronics — construct a device to broadcast bogus advisories. Possible codes range from "bullfight ahead" to "terrorist attack"..."
Re:encryption cant help.. (Score:4, Interesting)
The evil bit (Score:3, Interesting)
Sounds familiar... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Social hack - use "bullfight" for "speed trap". (Score:2, Interesting)
I don't mind them hiding, but it does suck when you're going 62 in that stupid 55 section. Most won't get you for 5 mph, but 7 seems to be the magic number most places I've been/been stopped.
This could be useful (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Social hack - use "bullfight" for "speed trap". (Score:4, Interesting)
Because you're putting everybody else at risk more than he is? Or was that a rhetorical question?
Me, I'm personally happy to cruise along in the righthand lane in my non-aerodynamic vehicle that is lucky to go 75 downhill with a tailwind. For some reason going out of my way to break the law, annoy others, and risk my own safety for no reason whatsoever just never occurred to me.
Re:Social hack - use "bullfight" for "speed trap". (Score:3, Interesting)
It's funny that you say that. I've been legally driving for 18 years (and a few before that, shhh). I've managed to be in 4 car accidents. I take speed limits to be a guideline of how fast I should be driving. Knowing the max speed is 65mph on a highway, but having effectively unlimited visibility ahead of me and empty roads, I tend to go faster. Lets say more than 50% of my driving has been over the speed limit.
The 4 accidents I've been in have all been low-speed accidents (under 40mph). 3 of which were driver or vehicle failure ahead of me. The only other one was at about 20mph, with a poorly designed, poorly lit road, that I was unfamiliar with.
I guess I'll have to spell out the first 3.
1) Bumper tag between 4 cars ahead of me. Unable to stop for the suddenly stopped vehicle ahead of me.
2) Truck on intersecting road ran stop sign, stopped IN the intersection. Very interesting demonstration of the transfer of kinetic energy. (I stopped, he went in the direction I was traveling)
3) Truck, no brake lights, locked up tires rear-ended stopped vehicle ahead of him. Unable to stop.
If I'm rolling along at say 100mph (for the sake of the previous poster), I'm on open road, with good visibility, and I'm generally away from all the other drivers. I stay in the gaps in traffic, just so no one can screw up around me. If I didn't gain speed, I'd be in with the other drivers, and I frequently see how well that goes.
But, speed should always be adjusted by the skill of the driver, the capability of the vehicle as loaded, and the road conditions. Even my car, which I know can handle over 150mph, if it's loaded with something (usually computers or whatever my project of the week is), I'll be the guy doing 50mph in the 55mph zone, because the car needs more room to decelerate or swerve, should the need arise.
I once drew up a plan, which I thought could be enacted nationally. Both vehicles and drivers should be tested not only for basic ability, but maximum ability. If you've shown proficiency in being able to safely handle a vehicle at over 100mph AND your vehicle is safely capable of handling those same speeds, the license plates should indicate the same.
If I'm licensed for the highest level, but I'm driving an old pickup, I would be limited to the capability of my vehicle.
Highway lanes would also be marked according to the vehicles that are allowed to use them. Take a 6 lane highway (one direction) for example.
Red license plate can only do up to 55mph.
Yellow license plate can do up to 75mph.
Green license plate can do up to 120mph.
Black license plate sets it's own safe maximum speed (driver judgement)
The right three lanes would be accessable to all vehicles, but only up to 55mph (lowest common speed)
The center lanes would be yellow, green, and black, max speed 75
The left two lanes would be green and black.
Experienced and competent drivers would already know to give way to the faster vehicle (hmmm, shouldn't that be a law now or something?)
Violations would be more severe for the higher rated drivers, or driving outside of your designated late. For example, if a red license car is doing 45mph down the far left lane (grandma on the freeway, just like we see every day), they'd have a huge penalty. Likewise, someone with a black license car doing 150 in a red lane would be severely punished (losing the high-speed privilege, or their license entirely for X period).
It'll never happen though. People will still freak out about good drivers in fast cars going fast down their fast lanes. Law/Code enforcement will lose out on their normal income. But, people would be able to ge